Queer activists today (May 10) released a spoof version of YMCA to urge Graham Norton to boycott Eurovision, because of Israel’s treatment of Palestinians.

Norton is due to host BBC coverage of the event on May 18 but the Tel Aviv location of this year’s competition has provoked a storm of controversy.

The all-queer cast of the video are calling on the TV presenter to heed Palestinians’ call for a boycott of Eurovision – the world’s biggest music event – until Israel complies with international law.

Fronted by drag king Beaujangles and featuring prominent Jewish LGBTQ+ activist Dan Glass, the video is entitled “Yes BDS”, in reference to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Leila White from London Palestine Action said: “We wanted to appeal to Graham Norton the way only queers know how – through the medium of YMCA. We had a lot of fun making this camp, joyful video but our message is very serious.”

“There should be no business as usual with an apartheid state. Graham Norton should listen to Palestinians and heed their call for a boycott of Israel until it stops its systematic denial of Palestinians rights. We say no to pinkwashing, yes to BDS!”

Graham! Israel’s getting me down
I said, Graham! Why you making me frown
I said, Graham! Got to turn it around
There's no need to be complicit
Graham! Oh, there’s something you can do
I said, Graham! Boycott Israel too
Stand for justice, and I'm sure you will find
Now’s the time! Boycott apartheid!

Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
There’s a movement out here, everybody can join
You don’t have to be Israel’s toy
Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
You can sing here with me, show solidarity
Until all Palestine is free

Graham, I was once in your shoes
I said, Graham, didn’t know I could choose
I felt nothing I could do would bring change
I felt the whole world was so strange
That's when someone came up to me
And said boycott, until Palestine is free
There's a movement, and it’s called BDS
So don’t hesitate just say yes

Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
There’s a movement out here, everybody can join
You don’t have to be Israel’s toy
Stand up for justice say Yes BDS!
Yes BDS!
You can sing here with me, show solidarity
Until all Palestine is free

In solidarity
Everyone must show support
Till Palestine is free
And refugees go home

When Israel calls your name
Just say you won't go there
Support BDS
Boycott to show you care
In solidarity
Till Palestine is free
Don’t second guess
Say yes to BDS

You hear the call
It is a people yearning
You have a choice
To use your voice
To stand for justice
Don't close your eyes
To Palestinians struggling
Don't close your heart
Withdraw your art
Join the boycott

When Israel calls your name
Just say you won't go there
Support BDS
Boycott to show you care
In solidarity
Till Palestine is free
Don’t second guess
Say yes to BDS

Madonna I know you're going to be annoyed
Cause Eurovision’s keeping you employed
But you should know by now
About the BDS movement
Always thought that you knew right from wrong
Palestinians asked for help to carry on
They may be occupied
But they're struggling for freedom
Israel's been flouting international law
And human rights lie trampled on the floor
Just like South Africa
Time to boycott apartheid, so please

Madonna don’t go to Eurovision
Madonna don’t go make the right decision, there's
Still time to change your mind, and boycott apartheid
You gotta boycott apartheid

No freedom and no equality
And the law’s discriminatory
You know it just ain't right
It's the crime of apartheid
Now Palestinians ask for solidarity
Boycott divest and sanction until they are free
Madonna let us give you some good advice, please

Madonna don’t go to Eurovision
Madonna don’t go make the right decision, there's
Still time to change your mind, and boycott apartheid
You gotta boycott apartheid

Madonna listen if you could only see
How Palestinians are treated by the military
You'd show your support right now
Palestine should be free
Palestine should be free, so please

Madonna don't go to Eurovision
Madonna don’t go make the right decision, there's  
Still time to change your mind, and boycott apartheid
Madonna Don’t Go to Eurovision
Madonna Don’t Go make the right decision
Madonna Don’t Go to Eurovision
Madonna Don’t Go make the right decision
Madonna Don’t Go to Eurovision
Madonna Don’t Go make the right decision
Madonna Don’t Go to Eurovision
Madonna Don’t Go make the right decision

Something you can do to show your solidarity
In support of every prisoner and till all Palestine is free
Stop playing apartheid
Back BDS with pride
Don't give it a second thought
If you want to show you care
Baby don't go there
That's the way to show support

Till Palestine is free
Show solidarity
End Israel's impunity

Picket Line
Our way to push back against state crime
If you want to show support, then
Don’t break the Picket Line
Picket Line
Our way to push back against state crime
If you want to show support, then
Don’t break the Picket Line
Picket line

Bibi Netanyahu's making such a fool of you
When you play apartheid Israel you act like the PR is true
Don't let Palestinians down, just stay out of town
While human rights just can’t be found
So take it in your stride, boycott apartheid
From justice there's nowhere to hide

Till Palestine is free
Show solidarity
End Israel's impunity

Picket Line
Our way to push back against state crime
If you want to show support, then
Don’t break the Picket Line
Picket Line
Our way to push back against state crime
If you want to show support, then
Don’t break the Picket Line
Picket Line
Our way to push
Our way to push
Our way to push back
Come on baby
Come on darling, yeah

I made it through to Israel‌‌
I’m one of just a few‌‌
Ignoring Palestinians‌‌
And all that they go through

I dance to the beat‌‌
Of Bibi’s feet‌‌
Hand in hand‌‌
With Netanyahu‌‌
Guess I make him feel‌‌
Yeah I make him feel‌‌
Shiny and new

Like Apartheid
Cross BDS picket lines

Like Apartheid
When the bombs drop
I feel just fine

Gonna give you all my love, Bibi
Whilst Gaza’s fading fast
Could Brand Israel save him now?
He’s desperate to last
Apartheid’s fine
Out of the firing line
Hear my songs, just ignore the bombs
Refugees thrown out
Yeah, refugees thrown out
Bombed and scared and cold

Like Apartheid
Bombed for the hundredth time
Like Apartheid
When the drones bomb
I feel just fine

(Whoa)
(Whoa, ah)
(Whoa)

BDS
Picket line
I’ll just cross
I just pay no mind
Cause I don’t even feel
Yeah, I don’t even feel
No solidarity

Like Apartheid
Cross BDS picketlines
Like Apartheid
When Palestinians ask
I pay no mind

Like Apartheid (Like Apartheid, ooh ooh)
Like Apartheid (Like Apartheid)
Gaza’s kids locked up inside
And they told me
Don’t play Israel
If you love me
(Oh oh, ooh whoa)
(Oh oh oh whoa)
(Whoa oh ho, ho)
(Ooh baby)
(Yeah)
Can’t you hear the movement call?
For the millionth time?

Roger Waters has written in the Guardian imploring Madonna not to play in Tel Aviv as part of the upcoming Eurovision song contest finals. He writes:

...am I prepared to stand behind my support for human rights and act on it? Will I help my brothers and sisters in their struggle for human rights, or will I cross over and walk by on the other side?

Read the full article on the Guardian website.

Dear Graham,

We are writing to you, as Palestinians and allies concerned with human rights and equality, to urge you to withdraw from commentating on Eurovision 2019, due to be held in Tel Aviv, Israel. Participating in this whitewashing of an apartheid regime would implicate you in Israel’s grave violations of international law and Palestinian human rights.

The decision to hold Eurovision in Israel at best ignores, and at worst tacitly signals approval of, Israel’s decades-old military occupation and ongoing discriminatory policies towards Palestinians. We are certain that you would not want your talent to be used to obscure these crimes.

Israel’s violations of international law continue every day - we cannot turn a blind eye to this for the sake of our own entertainment. Palestinians have asked the international community to respect the boycott divestment and sanctions (BDS) call to boycott Israel until it complies with international law. The least that you can do is not to undermine this struggle.

Eurovision 2019 is part of the Israeli government’s ‘Brand Israel’ programme, which uses culture to distract from its ongoing denial of Palestinian rights. Israel held a celebratory concert with 2018 Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai on the evening of the Gaza Great Return March’s deadliest day, when Israeli occupation forces massacred 62 unarmed Palestinian protesters. Netanyahu has referred to Barzilai as ‘the best ambassador’ of Israel.

The Eurovision contest will be held on the ruins of Al-Sheikh Muwannis, a Palestinian village whose inhabitants were expelled during the 1948 Nakba. On 18th May, they will watch as Eurovision fans around the world are allowed to celebrate in the home they continue to be denied the right to return to. This contradicts  Eurovision’s stated values of inclusion, diversity and unity - and it is certainly at odds with this year’s Eurovision slogan, ‘Dare to Dream’. For 70 years, Israel has worked to prevent Palestinian dreams of freedom, justice and equality from becoming a reality.

For decades, Palestinians have been struggling against colonial policies which are designed to take their land, and attack their lives and freedoms. We stand in solidarity with the Palestinians who continue to resist Israel’s ongoing efforts to erase their identity and existence, and ‘dare to dream’ of a reality in which they can enjoy the rights and freedoms that should be available to all people.

We urge you to stand up for Palestinian human rights, and to withdraw from your participation in Eurovision 2019.

Yours faithfully,

London Palestine Action

Malak said: “Thousands of artists now publicly support the call from Palestinian artists and cultural organisations for the cultural boycott of Israel. Madonna’s announcement that she will cross Palestinians’ long-established picket line comes at a time when fewer and fewer major international artists are willing to perform to an effectively segregated audience under apartheid.

“Israeli snipers continue to massacre Palestinians, including children, in besieged Gaza every week, and the far right Israeli government has proudly announced it intends to enforce permanent apartheid and occupation against millions of Palestinians for the foreseeable future.

“We hope Madonna stands on the right side of history by refusing to let her music and image be exploited by a regime that desperately craves the whitewash Eurovision is offering.”

Read the full article here.

Organising your own #ApartheidFreeEurovision party? Email us the details! apartheidfree.eurovision@gmail.com

17th May

Turin: Contro-Eurovision Festival @ Università di Torino - Palazzo Nuovo with Shadia Mansour and ZULU 99 Posse Official. (Facebook event)

Bologna: KaraOche e Party Atlantidea - Frocissime contro il pinkwashing! @ Xm24 with live music and kareoke (Facebook event)

18th May (Eurovision night)

WORLDWIDE: Globalvision - a livestream of concerts and music videos from around the world! A stage for Palestinian artists to shine, and for Israeli and global Eurovision fans to join them saying: no to art-washing, no to military occupation, and yes to the right of all refugees to return. (Details)

Worldwide: Palestinevision : Chansons contre l'Apartheid @ online with artists from around the world. (Facebook event)

London: Not the Eurovision - Party for Palestine @ Favela with Lowkey, Mic Righteous, Ms Mohammed, Jenan Younis, Hawiyya Dabke & DJ sets from Wolf Alice & Feminist Jukebox. (Facebook event & tickets)

London: Lag B'Omer 5779: Burn Capitalism - Burn Imperialism - Boycott Eurovision @ Secret South East London location. (Facebook event)

London: Trash! The Alternative Eurovision Song Contest @ Arcola Bar with Suggested Friends, Jelly Cleaver, Macadamia Sluts, IRN Brunette, Zayn Phallic, Carlos Al Dick & more. (Facebook event & tickets)

Bristol: EuroVision of a Free Palestine @ The Loco Klub with live music from Martyrials, Rusalka and Lucy Reynolds; drag from Roddy Jodphurs and Isaac Dix; comedy from Gareth Williams; and more. (Facebook event and tickets)

York: Eurovision Zero (Oppression free option) @ The Crescent with Charlotte Hall, Kraken, The Vanity Project, Qwirk (DJ set). (Facebook event and tickets)

Bath: Pal’evision – No Contest! @ Old Theatre Royal with Taisir Masrieh and the Maram Oriental Ensemble from Tuscany, supported by Yara Salahiddeen (voice, percussion) and Martin Stokes (qanun) from Oxford Maqam. (Facebook event and tickets)

Valencia: Solidarity Festival with Palestine @ Repvblicca with Cactus troop, el Diluvi, Pupil·les, The Mediaplayers, Grup Carraixet amb Spyros Kaniaris, ZOO, Biano, & Figuels DJs. (Facebook event & tickets)

Barcelona: #EuroCaca2019 @ La 2 Apolo (poster)

Madrid: Festival Solidario con Palestina @ Plaza Juan Goytisolo with various artists. (Poster)

Dublin: PalFest Ireland presents Palestine: You're a Vision @ Ringside Bar in The National Stadium with Avoca Reaction, Frances Black, Mick Blake, Mary Coughlan, Farah Elle, Free Speaking Monkey, Honor Heffernan and Band, Kíla, Jinx Lennon, Dónal Lunny, Charlie McGettigan, Christy Moore, Sky Atlas & more. (Tickets)

Dublin: Eurovision Alternative @ Street 66 Dublin. (Facebook event)

Dublin: Alternative Eurovision party @ Secret location with Dublin Digital Radio DJs TR-One,  Eoin and Rosita Moulin (Details)

Derry: Alternative Eurovision @ the Maldron Hotel with Demi DéTourné. (Facebook event)

Belfast: Livestreaming Globalvision @ Unison Belfast (Facebook event)

Galway: Boycott Eurovision, Support Palestine – Alternative Song Event @ Club Áras na nGael. (Facebook event)

Cork: Eurovision Karaoke Competition: A Song For Palestine @ Plug’d (Facebook event)

Oslo: Solidaritetskonsert med Palestina @ SALT. (Facebook event)

Stavanger: Solidaritetskonsert for Palestina @ Spor 5 with Kjell Inge Torgersen, Hanne Vasshus, Liv Runesdatter, Tormod Eikill, Øystein Bru Frantzen, Elisabeth Barstad and Eddie Andresen. (Facebook event)

Fredrikstad: Fredrikstad Song Contest @ Gamlebyen Kulturhus. (Facebook event)

Turku: Shadow Vision Festival in support of the Palestinian queer community @ Kirjakahvila with Pink Taco Krew and much more (Facebook event)

Reykjavík: Zerovision @ Húrra with Palestinian-Jordanian Rapper/Singer, The Synaptik and more (Facebook event)

Patras: Cocktail party // this year we do not support Eurovision @ Λέσχη Εκτός/Γραμμής Πάτρας (Facebook event)

Athens: Cocktail party @ Κουμπί Coffee Bar (Facebook event)

Thessaloníki: Cocktail party - This year we do not go to Eurovision - We support Palestine @ Λέσχη Εκτός Γραμμής Θεσσαλονίκης (Facebook event)

Want to host your own #ApartheidFreeEurovision party? Just click here for our how-to guide!

And despite the repeated refrain from some quarters that holding Eurovision in Israel is “not political”, the Canadian-Israeli billionaire footing the bill for the $1m performance has made no secret of the political purpose behind securing Madonna.  

From Israel’s perspective, Madonna is a great coup.

As a longstanding gay icon and ally, she appeals to Eurovision’s LGBT+ fanbase and fits in neatly with the pinkwashing marketing strategy being deployed around the event, a key plank of the government’s official “Brand Israel” campaign which aims to distract attention from its human rights abuses.

What seems confused, is Madonna’s position. In the past, she has spoken about the importance of supporting “human dignity and respect” while reminding people that “the children of Gaza need our support!”. But working with Israel furthers none of those causes.

Many of the children she previously spoke up for will now be teenagers. They’ll likely have participated in the weekly Great Return March protests which just marked their one-year anniversary.

Perhaps some were even among those (including children, medics and journalists) who, according to a UN report released in February, Israel deliberately shot during its brutal repression of these demonstrations.

All of them will undoubtedly be suffering the effects of the humanitarian crisis engineered by Israel’s blockade of Gaza.

Palestinians outside of Gaza – including children – also face daily violence, home demolitions and imprisonment without trial, on top of ongoing exclusion from the homeland from which they were ethnically cleansed...

Madonna's Eurovision appearance will celebrated by the Israeli government and its supporters. But supporters of the Palestinian campaign for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions are already calling on her to follow the example of Lauryn Hill, Lana Del Rey and Lorde and cancel her Israel gig. It would be a meaningful act of care for children in Gaza if she did.

Read the full article, by Hilary Aked, here.

JOIN US FOR A SINGALONG PROTEST AT MAGIC FM

WHEN: 1 to 3pm, Saturday 30 March 2019

WHERE: 1 Golden Square, W1F 9DJ

https://www.facebook.com/events/362217587958076/

On 30 March 1976 Israeli police shot and killed six Palestinian citizens of Israel as they were protesting the Israeli government's expropriation of of Palestinian land. Since then, 30 March has been known as Land Day.

On 30 March 2018 a massive wave of protests in Gaza known as the Great March of Return began, calling for the right of return for Palestinian refugees and an end to the devastating siege on Gaza.

Now Palestinians are calling for a global day of action on 30 March 2019 in support of the Great March of Return (watch the call-to-action video here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/58062638627/permalink/10157214882128628/)

Last month we sent Mel Giedroyc (of Mel and Sue and formerly the Great British Bake Off) an open letter asking that she heed the Palestinian call to boycott and refuse to help culturewash Israeli apartheid by cancelling her participation in Eurovision 2019. But, she went ahead with co-hosting Eurovision: You Decide, the show that selected the UK contestant.

There's still a chance for Mel to make a stand, on the right side of history, in support of a struggle for justice and liberation... We're now calling on Mel to withdraw from her role in the Eurovision final, announcing the results of the UK's televote live from London. Please help us #TellMel to #BoycottEurovision2019!

We're big fans, or at least some of LPA, are big fans of Mel's Saturday show on Magic FM, and the cheesy catchy pop hits she spins! We'll be gathering outside Magic FM studios during the show. And like Magic, we'll be playing MORE OF THE SONGS YOU LOVE, but with a twist... pop anthems rewritten as Palestine solidarity protest songs, because there's no Magic in apartheid!

Literally all singing abilities (and none) very welcome, and in case you fancied having a wee practice in advance, we've put up some lyrics here: boycotteurovision.uk/tag/song-lyrics/

For more information on the campaign in general see boycotteurovision.uk

IMPORTANT NOTE:

* It is a core part of LPA’s work to challenge oppression both within our group and in the wider movement, both in what people say and in the ways people act. We all have the responsibility to call out and oppose oppression in all its forms e.g. Islamophobia, anti-Semitism, sexism, ableism, paternalistic and colonial attitudes towards Palestinians and other forms of racism including Zionism.

We also reject attempts to mystify Israeli settler-colonialism by linking it to shadowy banking cabals and secret global societies. The use of racist dog-whistles, such as explaining the success of a settler-colonial project by reference to 'Rothschilds' and 'Soros', rather than the interconnected interests of Western capital and the military-industrial complex, does nothing to further our movement and obscures the reality of the colonisation of Palestine.

You can find out more about the LPA principles in our statement here: https://bit.ly/2u4nMR1We ask people who want to get involved to read and agree to this statement of our principles. We strive to hold ourselves to account to uphold our principles. Anyone who violates our principles may be asked to leave.

* The event will be a drug and alcohol-free space

In fact, we can say from personal experience that pinkwashing has deeply harmful impacts, not least on Palestinian queers. The narrative that Israel welcomes LGBT+ self-expression while in the rest of the Middle East queers face relentless persecution, constructs a false opposition.

It is not merely propaganda which makes Zionism more appealing to queer groups, sometimes even eliciting direct support for Israel’s apartheid regime. It is also a form of violence against Palestinian queers, rendering all of the progressive forces inside Palestine invisible, including erasing the queer Palestinian movement’s achievements.

This narrative encourages LGBT+ Palestinians to believe that their families, society and friends will always reject them and there is no hope of challenging homophobia – something which also exists in Israel, despite efforts to hide it.

Above all, Israel’s pinkwashing is a cynical attempt to normalise its entrenched apartheid regime which discriminates against, dispossesses and subordinates all Palestinians, queers and non-queers alike.  

Read the full article, by Haneen Maikey and Hilary Aked, here.

In February, London Palestine Action released a song in support of the Palestinian call for the boycott of Eurovision 2019, which will be taking place in Israel later this year.

Since then the song - which is sung to the tune of Bucks Fizz's "Making You Mind Up" - has racked up over 100,000 views on Facebook and more than 40,000 on Twitter.

It has also spread beyond the confines of the English language: its lyrics have been translated into Italian, German, Greek, Spanish, and Dutch, with more on the way.

Performances of the song are spreading far and wide too: the song was recently performed live at a pro-Palestine fundraiser in Glasgow, and was played at protest in Berlin last week.