Israel Is Not In Europe, So Why Is It Allowed To Enter The Eurovision ...

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STAGE AND SCREENIsrael is not in Europe, so why is it allowed to enter the Eurovision Song Contest?

  • ISRAEL is entitled to enter since it has long been a member of Eurovision - the principal criterion for taking part. The country's television service was established under the guidance of European experts including Stuart Hood of the BBC. Israel is also a member of the European Broadcasting Union. It won the song contest in 1978 and again in 1979, when it was televised from Jerusalem. Having won for the second time it had the right to host the competition again in 1980, but handed this to Holland due to lack of funds.

    Rodney Greenberg, High Wycombe, Bucks.

  • IN THE PAST Morocco has entered, and Libya could if it wished as well, as both have European Broadcasting Union status.

    Liam Jarnecki, London E15.

  • THE RIGHT to participate in the contest is contingent on membership of the European Broadcasting Union. The statutes of the Union limit membership "primarily ... to organisations in the European Broadcasting Area. This area, as defined by the International Telecommunications Union, extends from the Atlantic to the meridian 40 deg E. It is bounded on the south by the 30th parallel." Jerusalem, the official headquarters of Israeli Television, is 35 deg E, and on the 32nd parallel. This definition also allows for participation by Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, the Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Syria and Tunisia. Israeli participation deters these countries on a point of principle, although Morocco did enter in 1980 when Israel withdrew for Passover. Samira Bensaid sang "Betakit Hob", a plea for racial harmony based on the distressing observation that, "while our skins may be different colours, we are all red on the inside". It came second from last and Morocco has not repeated the experiment. The only country ever refused entry to the contest is Liechtenstein, turned down in 1976 on the harsh grounds that it had no television station or transmission facilities of any sort. In a compromise to avert a diplomatic incident, Swiss Television agreed that their entry be officially that of "The Swiss Confederation and Liechtenstein"; this is a nice point, since the full name won't fit on the scoreboard. A further complication is that of Eastern Europe. Yugoslavia has always been a member of Eurovision; indeed, Croatian television staged the contest this year in Zagreb following their famous 1989 victory with "Rock Me, Baby". The other countries of Eastern Europe - except Albania - have a parallel organisation called Intervision, with its own song contest. In the state of flux now characterising the old structures of Europe, these countries may be expected to avail themselves of Eurovision membership, thereby increasing the length of the contest by about an hour and causing terminal seizure of the voting system. Gorbachev has a lot to answer for.

    Andrew Latto, Thornton Heath, Surrey.

  • The real question is "Why does Israel want to enter the Eurovision Song Contest?". But to be serious, Israel does "compete" in a number of European events (such as Soccer and Basketball). I think the main reason for this is that its Middle-East neighbours might not be too happy about it competing with them.

    Benjy Arnold, London

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