The Icelandic band, Hatari, showing Palestinian flag at Eurovision Grand Final. (Twitter)

Iceland’s Band Is Expected To Be ‘Punished’ After Raising Palestinian Flags in Tel Aviv

Met on Sunday (05/19), the CEO of Eurovision Israeli broadcaster Eldad Koblenz stated a statement that the participant from Iceland has violated the competition rules and should be given a punishment by the event organizer, European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

This year, the longest and largest song competition in Europe has again reaped a controversy due to political embodied actions done by one of its participants. A punk rock band from Iceland called Hatari was seen briefly on the internationally broadcasted TV show raising scarves with Palestinian flags during the point-tally of contest’s grand final on Saturday (05/18), which took place in Tel Aviv, Israel.

This action was said as a form of the band members’ critics toward Israel’s illegal settlement and apartheid practice in the occupied Palestinian territory. However, this only drew boos from Israeli audiences.

EBU basically has regulation stating that Eurovision cannot be used as a medium for political events. For anyone who violates, it has a right to disqualify them and give financial sanctions as what has happened before. Yet the new incident is still under discussion to consider the consequences.

Earlier on that day, Madonna who performed as a guest star was also reported to have no advance notice for displaying the flags of Israel and Palestine pinned on the back of her two dancers’ costumes. Responding to this, the pop legend stated on her Twitter account that she felt happy for having the opportunity to spread a message of peace and unity in the world.  

By this, it was making the Palestinian flags appeared two times during this international live broadcasting show.