Guitarist Joff Oddie claimed Israel was using the competition to “whitewash over their human rights abuses”.
“’We asked Palestine – do you want us to come?’ ‘No – do not come’ and that’s what you do, you respect the people who are being oppressed,” he said.
Israel won the right to host the event after its artist Netta won last year’s competition with the song “Toy”.
The first semi-final starts on Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
BDS Movement Wolf Alice signed an open letter in January calling for the BBC to cancel its coverage of the competition.
They have joined Julie Christie, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters among others.
The BBC responded: “The Eurovision is not a political event and does not endorse any political message or campaign.”
Hatari, Iceland’s act, has also criticised Israel’s hosting of the event, saying it is “built on a lie”, yet have agreed to perform.
The dispute centres on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Roger Waters and others have called systematic human rights abuses.
Israel has responded by with an online advertising campaign.
The adverts describe Israel as ‘Beautiful, Diverse, Sensational’, a play on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
‘Bigger Than Us’ No contestants have pulled out of the event as yet.
Jon Ola Sand, Eurovision’s executive supervisor , said:
“The European Broadcasting Union has never confirmed Madonna as an act”, casting doubt over the singer’s performance.
“We are negotiating now, in the final stage of that – but if there is no signed contract this week, she will not be on the stage,” Sand added.
Former X Factor contestant Michael Rice is representing the UK with the song “Bigger Than Us”.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Corporation (EBU).
The contest typically attracts nearly 200 million viewers each year.
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Headline Wolf Alice joins calls for Eurovision boycottShort Headline Wolf Alice joins Eurovision boycott callsStandfirst London band Wolf Alice have joined calls to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest starting in Israel on Tuesday.
Guitarist Joff Oddie claimed Israel was using the competition to “whitewash over their human rights abuses”.
“’We asked Palestine – do you want us to come?’ ‘No – do not come’ and that’s what you do, you respect the people who are being oppressed,” he said.
Israel won the right to host the event after its artist Netta won last year’s competition with the song “Toy”.
The first semi-final starts on Tuesday in Tel Aviv.
BDS Movement Wolf Alice signed an open letter in January calling for the BBC to cancel its coverage of the competition.
They have joined Julie Christie, Peter Gabriel, Roger Waters among others.
The BBC responded: “The Eurovision is not a political event and does not endorse any political message or campaign.”
Hatari, Iceland’s act, has also criticised Israel’s hosting of the event, saying it is “built on a lie”, yet have agreed to perform.
The dispute centres on Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.
Roger Waters and others have called systematic human rights abuses.
Israel has responded by with an online advertising campaign.
The adverts describe Israel as ‘Beautiful, Diverse, Sensational’, a play on the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
‘Bigger Than Us’ No contestants have pulled out of the event as yet.
Jon Ola Sand, Eurovision’s executive supervisor , said:
“The European Broadcasting Union has never confirmed Madonna as an act”, casting doubt over the singer’s performance.
“We are negotiating now, in the final stage of that – but if there is no signed contract this week, she will not be on the stage,” Sand added.
Former X Factor contestant Michael Rice is representing the UK with the song “Bigger Than Us”.
The Eurovision Song Contest is organised by the European Broadcasting Corporation (EBU).
The contest typically attracts nearly 200 million viewers each year.
