Mickey Joe Harte backs banning Israel from Eurovision contest

FORMER Eurovision star Mickey Joe Harte has taken a rare public political stand, joining over 70 past contestants from across Europe in signing a letter calling for Israel to be excluded from the popular song contest this year, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Speaking to the Strabane Chronicle, he Lifford man said he usually avoids mixing politics with his music, but felt compelled to act due to the scale of suffering being reported from the region.

“I felt like it was the right thing to do to sign the letter,” he said. “When you see the stuff on the television and what is going on over there, you can’t help but be shocked.”

Harte, who represented Ireland at Eurovision 2003 in Riga with the hit ‘We’ve Got the World Tonight’, said he had previously turned down similar requests to sign political petitions.

But in this instance, he felt he had ‘no other choice’.

“I try to keep my politics and my views out of my music, but I have not been able to do so this time. I just hope common sense prevails and Eurovision does what I think is the right thing.”

Among the other signatories are Ballyshannon native Charlie McGettigan, who, along with Paul Harrington, won the 1994 contest with ‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Kids’, singer Brian Kennedy, Ireland’s 2024 entrant Bambie Thug and former UK contestant Mae Muller.

The open letter, addressed to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), criticises the organisation for allowing Israel’s public broadcaster KAN to participate in this year’s contest.

“By continuing to platform the representation of the Israeli state, the EBU is normalising and whitewashing its crimes,” the letter states.

“The EBU has already demonstrated that it is capable of taking measures, as in 2022, when it expelled Russia from the competition. We don’t accept this double standard regarding Israel.”

Irish national broadcaster RTÉ has confirmed it requested a discussion with the EBU on Israel’s inclusion.

Director General Kevin Bakhurst said he was ‘appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza and the fate of Israeli hostages’.

RTÉ said the EBU has promised a ‘wider discussion’ on the matter ‘in due time’.

As Eurovision weekend approaches, the debate surrounding Israel’s participation continues to spark international headlines. For Harte, however, the decision was a deeply personal one – a line crossed by conscience, not career.