Eurovision is the biggest music competition in the world. The 2024 edition was watched by more than 200 million people on television. In addition to the songs, viewers witnessed a constant flow of hatred towards Israel in the streets of Malmö (Sweden), host city of the competition this year, as well as persistent boos during the performance of the Israeli singer Eden Golan in the room.
Eden Golan was forced to rewrite her song before the festival and was forbidden from expressing her sadness for her fellow Israelis who tragically lost their lives on October 7, 2023. The reason? Eurovision does not allow political lyrics. This is the biggest scandal: the fact that the mourning of those killed at a music festival in Israel only seven months ago was censored at a music competition. Because politics supposedly has no place here. Showing empathy and solidarity with victims of violence is considered political. On the other hand, the demonstration of a woke attitude does not seem to be…
In the days leading up to the competition, artists from several countries openly displayed their contempt for the Israeli singer. Belgian television broadcast messages of protest against Israel, and a presenter of the semi-final score showed her disapproval by refusing to even mention Israel by name.
Anti-Semitism and anti-capitalism often associated
However, events took a remarkable turn when the majority of viewers refused to share the same sentiments. They voted in favor of the Israeli singer, whether out of support for Israel or simply because they liked her music and were not guided by political ideologies. If it were up to the viewers, Israel would have achieved an impressive second place. Ultimately, Israel placed fifth, but only thanks to spectators. The jury only awarded the country 52 points (compared to 365 for Switzerland), which places it in twelfth position.
The silent majority finally had the opportunity to express their opinion. Unfortunately, it is clear that artists – just like intellectuals – are rarely right when they express themselves on political subjects. In the cultural environment, which claims to be non-conformist but is extremely conformist, we almost expect everyone to align with left-wing ideologies. And being on the left today also means adhering to a woke, postcolonialist ideology, for which Israel today stands as the incarnation of colonialism and capitalism.
Historically, anti-Semitism and anti-capitalism have often been associated – from the socialist Eugen Dühring to the National Socialist Adolf Hitler. It is therefore no wonder that in the left-wing universities of the Western world, which have become the main bastions of anti-capitalist sentiment, animosity towards Israel is so widespread.
However, it is important to recognize that this is a small minority amplified by the media, because many media professionals are themselves left-wing. And because they are a screaming, noisy and aggressive minority. While the majority remains silent. But this silent majority sometimes has the opportunity to show that it is not at all impressed by the ideology of a woke minority. Like yesterday, when she judged the Israeli singer solely on her musical performance.
Vote of hope
Of course, the majority is not always right. She is sometimes horribly wrong. Examples are numerous today, as throughout history. But the Eurovision vote brings hope. The majority want nothing to do with Israel’s left-wing enemies led by “climate activist” Greta Thunberg. In these terrible times when many Jews no longer feel safe wearing a yarmulke in their own neighborhoods and are being refused entry to universities by left-wing activists, the Eurovision vote is a positive sign .
US President and Democratic candidate Joe Biden should perhaps ask himself whether it is a good idea to kowtow to the Israel-hating minority on the left, out of opportunistic deference to members of the left in his party, by refusing to show solidarity with Israel in these difficult times.
*Rainer Zitelmann is a historian and author of Hitler’s National Socialism and the recent How Nations Escape Poverty.
.