It’s likely many in both Israel and the European Broadcasting Union are thanking JJ for saving them from what may have been a poison pill of a victory at the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, Saturday night.
There are plenty of wins Israel could use right now, Eurovision is not one of them.
In the lead-up to Eurovision, an undue amount of attention was showered on Israel and singer Yuval Raphael.
One can only imagine the effect those same forces would have exerted had Israel won and been handed hosting duties.
Giving Israel hosting duties would turn the loud — but apparently unrepresentative — anti-Israel sentiment at the contest from a side show into the main act, giving it the very oxygen Israel seeks to deprive it.
A countertenor from Austria who was raised in Dubai and sang an operatic ballad about unrequited ardor helped Israel avoid a bullet early Sunday morning. JJ is probably being thanked by many in Israel and the European Broadcasting Union for sparing them from what could have been a devastating victory at the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night in Basel, Switzerland.
If he hadn’t, the praise given to Israel during the competition might have been a waste of affection.
Although second place might be the first loser, in this case, it could be argued that Israel achieved all of its goals by narrowly losing the campy but significant song competition.
Israel was able to demonstrate the talent and tenacity of someone who survived the Hamas terror group’s deadly rampage through southern Israel less than two years ago on a huge international platform thanks to the competition.
In an incredible display of love, the world showed a nation that has felt attacked since October 7, 2023, that it might not be the outcast some world leaders portray it to be.
But the best thing about finishing second is that it doesn’t have to deal with the pressure of winning the entire thing anymore.
One only needs to look—or hear—the rocket alarms that sounded throughout much of the nation as the final results were being announced at the St. Petersburg Naval Base to see evidence of the potential complications that went along with an Israeli victory. Basel’s Jakobshalle arena.
However, winning hosting duties would have raised more issues than just security. Not to mention the cost of staging a large, ostentatious extravaganza for a populace already suffering from the devastating economic effects of waging an expensive war that employs a sizable portion of Israel’s labor force.
It’s because a victory would have brought Israel unwelcome attention equivalent to a Swiss bank vault. It would have led to more domestic and international political disputes. Additionally, it might have compelled the nation to face the unimaginably difficult task of maintaining a false sense of security while hostages endure in the tunnels of Gaza.
Eurovision isn’t one of the many victories Israel could use at the moment.
The singer Yuval Raphael and Israel received too much attention in the run-up to Eurovision. Not much of it was brought on by her stirring survival tale or stirring vocals. Artists, politicians, and pro-Palestinian activists have been calling for Israel to be kicked out of the song competition for the past two years.
In addition to several members of the European Parliament, the boo-crew this year featured reigning winner Nemo and four participating public broadcasters, including one from Iceland, which finished in 25th place out of 26 competitors in Saturday’s grand final after seemingly copying an Israeli pop song.
The artists were introduced at a parade in Basel early last week, and it is likely that they were not there to support allowing a Palestinian entry into the annual Shmaltzfest because the number of Palestinian flags on display at the renowned nationalistic event far outnumbered each other.
The atmosphere was so strong that Raphael’s performance at Thursday’s semifinal felt so successful that the audience didn’t boo him for very long.
If Israel had been chosen to host, one can only speculate about the impact those same forces would have had. The EBU has been firm in rejecting the calls to expel Israel, but it’s unlikely it would have had the same ability to shut down any number of countries who might decide to boycott an Israel-hosted Eurovision, or who might send acts to use the stage as a platform to push anti-Israel messaging.
The loud, but ostensibly unrepresentative, anti-Israel sentiment at the competition would go from being a side show to the main event if Israel were granted hosting duties, giving it the very oxygen Israel tries to deny it.
Would Israel persist in attempting to promote a pathetic performance that draws celebrities like Zlad from Molvania? Would it squander a year and countless hours attempting to portray itself as deserving of hosting a song competition that once awarded a trophy to these men? Fortunately, no one has to find out.
The difficulties of 2019—the last time Israel hosted—seem insignificant in comparison to Israel’s current situation, but there were many controversies that year, which would only have been exacerbated by Israel’s second victory in seven years.
Israel’s government at the time made a show of demanding that the competition be held in Jerusalem, but ultimately gave in to pressure that it be moved to Tel Aviv, possibly in keeping with Eurovision’s tradition of ultimately meaningless performances.
In Europe, anti-Israel demonstrations at national elections to select candidates became commonplace. Madonna even participated, using her appearance as a source of protest. The entire situation was momentarily called into question when Hamas and Islamic Jihad started launching rockets into Israel from Gaza during rehearsals a few days prior. This may have caused some tourists to reconsider Israel as a secure travel destination.
However, it is unlikely that Israel would have hosted even if it had won. It was anticipated that the EBU would have moved hosting responsibilities elsewhere, as it did after Ukraine won in 2022, given the ongoing war in Gaza and the continued exclusion of international airlines.
The Houthis, who love missiles, are already on a high after stalemating the world’s most formidable military and appearing to outlast every significant attack Israel launches at them.
Preventing Israel from hosting would only demonstrate how successful its alleged “air embargo” is against the nation.
It’s difficult to say with certainty that winning would have been an absolute disaster. Although Israel’s hardliners and Hamas might not have been persuaded by the be-sequined purveyors of European glam-pop, it would have probably been a pleasant pick-me-up and could have brought the hostages to the attention of the world.
Maybe in a year, when the surviving hostages will be reunited with their families, the dead will be buried with their loved ones, the north will have been rebuilt, the reservists will have returned home and are boosting the economy, and Hamas and the Houthis will only be a memory, Israelis will turn on their televisions and watch an Austrian pop star in a confusing outfit greet millions of viewers in German-accented English, thinking, “That could have been us.”. This is the kind of dream that Eurovision is based on.
