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   Mark Hughes (markhughes@mastodon.social)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 16:36:54 JST Mark Hughes

   #Eurovision's most significant and damning effect is to whitewash #Israel's #genocide in #gaza.

   They can heave a sigh of relief Israel didn't win, but the important point is that they allowed Israel the chance, and coming in second place shows that the system - however you define it - does not care about genocide.

   The world is a dangerous place and not just for Palestinians, when genocide becomes something that does not matter to people or those who determine who gets to play.

   • Embed this notice
     Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 16:39:14 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • Dwev

     @dwev @markhughes https://climatejustice.social/@marion_grau/116586681283995243

   • Embed this notice
     Dwev (dwev@mstdn.dk)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 16:39:16 JST Dwev

     in reply to

     @markhughes first - I’ll be clear that i don’t support the current Israeli regime, and believe they are committing war crimes.
     I just don’t understand why Eurovision has become a proxy for what Israel is doing. Why can we not condemn the actions of a state, and also appreciate an event that celebrates joy and unity? Is it so black and white? It feels like undermining the cultural events that show the diversity and open values of Europe, is actually against freedom and supports fascist ideologies.
     Supporting something like this song contest, does not equate to supporting genocide.

     Aral Balkan repeated this.
   • Embed this notice
     Aral Balkan (aral@mastodon.ar.al)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 17:33:19 JST Aral Balkan

     in reply to

     • Dwev

     @dwev @markhughes I’m sorry if our caring for victims of genocide has hurt your feelings or made you unable to enjoy your entertainment event.

   • Embed this notice
     Dwev (dwev@mstdn.dk)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 17:33:21 JST Dwev

     in reply to

     • Aral Balkan

     @aral @markhughes thanks for the article, Aral. Seems there is a deeper problem inside the EBU, and I can understand the boycott. I agree that a good solution would be to exclude countries in active conflict, although this would also impact Ukraine. The EBU seem to be trying to ignore or underplay the issue which is problematic.
     It’s a real dilemma for me, as I don’t want to “let the terrorists win” by allowing the actions of a single nation, and the inaction of the EBU to take away what I see as an uplifting symbol of unity and joy.
     What I don’t think is effective, is the vitriol and bullying directed at me and others just for trying to enjoy what is otherwise an uplifting escape from the darkness of the world for a few hours. It only deepens the divide.

   • Embed this notice
     Mogleg (mogleg@mastodon.scot)'s status on Sunday, 17-May-2026 18:16:11 JST Mogleg

     in reply to

     • Dwev

     @dwev
     Allowing the settler colonial apartheid entity to participate normalises genocide and whitewashes its actions. This directly leads to continued impunity and allows the ethnic cleansing to continue unabated.

     The only unity on display is white supremacy and colonialism. The only joy is that of the genocider being allowed to rub shoulders with its backers in Europe.

     So no, we can’t enjoy the EBU bending over backwards to lend material support to genocide.
     @markhughes