Ireland will not participate in Eurovision if Israel takes part

Boycott vs Participation and Double Standards

• One side frames excluding Israel from Eurovision or cultural events as antisemitism and collective punishment of ordinary citizens for state policy, asking why other abusive states are not similarly treated.
• Others argue it is consistent with sanctions on Russia and historic boycotts of apartheid South Africa, and that Israel “should be double banned” given alleged genocide and ICC warrants.
• A worry is raised that normalizing bans on individuals from certain states could justify broader discrimination (e.g., against citizens of many other countries with ongoing conflicts).

Genocide, War Crimes, and Definitions

• Several commenters flatly assert that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and the West Bank, citing high civilian and child death tolls, mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure, famine, and bombing of hospitals.
• Opponents call “genocide” unproven or a politically driven label, question the authority or methods of some genocide scholars’ groups, and argue that Hamas embeds in civilian sites and bears primary responsibility.
• There is dispute over how much evidence is needed to classify actions as genocide and whether providing some aid to Gaza can coexist with genocidal intent.

Germany, Ireland, and Geopolitics

• Germany is criticized for “unconditional” support of Israel, seen as driven by Holocaust guilt and by arms and defense partnerships; some fear acknowledging Israeli atrocities would fuel domestic extremists.
• Others stress that Germans and Jews/Israelis are distinct, and conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitism misserves both.
• Ireland’s stance is linked by supporters to its own history of occupation and its earlier leadership in boycotting apartheid South Africa; skeptics downplay Ireland’s actual foreign‑policy weight.

Eurovision’s Role and Rules

• Commenters note participation is based on EBU membership, not geography, explaining Israel (and even Australia) in the contest.
• Precedent: Russia’s suspension after invading Ukraine; some say this logically extends to Israel, others argue Eurovision should admit everyone and let individual countries opt out.
• There is debate over alleged voting irregularities favoring Israel and over whether its presence is “essential” or mainly a source of drama.

Antisemitism, Anti‑Zionism, and Speech

• Some see rising criticism of Israel as shading into classic antisemitic tropes and denial of Israel’s right to exist.
• Others counter that equating anti‑Zionism with antisemitism is itself harmful, and emphasize that many critics focus on state policy, not Jews as a group.

Meta: HN and Broader Censorship

• Several participants complain that Israel‑critical threads are quickly flagged or buried; others reply that strongly anti‑Israel content regularly reaches the front page.