Israel

When thinking of Europe, Israel is not the first country that comes to mind. Israel is a Middle Eastern country surrounded by Syria, Jordan, Egypt, and the Mediterranean Sea, so it might be surprising to find Israel on the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel is a member of the European Broadcasting Union which allows them to participate in Eurovision. At Eurovision, Israel gets to show off their music, culture, and national brand. This is a good way for Israel to get visibility and tell people about their country. However, to what extent is the reality of what it is like in Israel being presented? Eurovision allows countries to show a certain side through including, or excluding, certain elements and groups of people in their performances. From 2009 to 2011 three performances by Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest allowed the country to show an element of diversity. The 2009 song “There Must Be Another Way” was performed by two women one of whom is Israeli-Palestinian, th...

Looking into performances and people represented can give an idea of the diversity somewhere. Israel represents several identities at the Eurovision Song Contest that would seem to give an appearance of a positive attitude towards diversity. However, some identities represented by Israel are complicated, as there are strained relationships with Palestine. There are still some Palestinian identities represented which demonstrates a move towards more progressive ideas towards diversity. Additionally, some acceptance of the LGBTQ community in parts of Israel is represented at Eurovision. Overall, some diversity is represented through Israel’s performances at the Eurovision Song Contest. There is a lot of commitment to Israel’s own diverse identity in how they present their songs, as many songs are all in Hebrew or include it in some aspect. The song “There Must Be Another Way” is from 2009, following the re-election of right-wing parties into power. The leader of a party called the Lik...

National identity is a multifaceted concept that involves many different parts of a nation. It is a complicated and variable idea. It includes a combination of factors that vary based on perspective, location, religion, and other aspects. It involves not only the nation itself, but also their relationship with nearby nations. Israel has a complex history that contributes greatly to its national identity. Through difficult relationships with Palestine and borders that continue to change, Israel has formed a national identity. Since its creation 1948, Israel has faced a lot of conflict that allowed a national identity to be created. In Israel, the national language is Hebrew and the majority religion is Jewish. Religion in Israel is broken down into Jewish 74.8%, Muslim 17.6%, Christian 2%, Druze 1.6%, other 4% ( CIA , 2018). Since Israel was made to be a Jewish state following World War II, many people in Israel are Jewish, whether in religion or culture, or both. This plays an impo...

Hello and welcome to my blog about Israel and their participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel has participated since 1973 and they have won the competition three times since then. Thank you for visiting!