Official does not confirm Israeli and Palestinian attendancePalestinians believe peace plan will be in favour of IsraelThe US will hold an international economic “workshop” in Bahrain in late June, seeking to encourage investment in the Palestinian territories as the first part of Donald Trump’s long-awaited Middle East peace plan, the White House said on Sunday
US to hold Bahrain economic conference to launch Middle East peace plan
Madonna and Icelandic band Hatari displayed the flags at competition’s final in Tel AvivThe Israeli culture minister, Miri Regev, has criticised the display of Palestinian flags during the Eurovision song contest final in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, including by one of Madonna’s dancers
Israeli culture minister criticises Palestinian flags at Eurovision
As an audience member in Tel Aviv I saw the flags of many nations on display, why not those of Israel’s neighbours?There were loud boos in the Tel Aviv Expo Centre on Saturday night, and not just when it was announced that voters in Greece and Cyprus had once again awarded each other the full 12 Eurovision song contest points in their annual display of allegiance
There should be nothing wrong in waving Palestinian flags at Eurovision | Michael Segalov
But no joy for the UK as Michael Rice limps in lastThe 64th Eurovision final, hosted by Israel in Tel Aviv, was swathed in controversy – from calls for a boycott over the Palestine conflict, to uncertainty over whether special guest Madonna would show up (she did), until only two burning questions remained – who would win, and how many of the estimated 200 million viewers would survive the full three hours and 40 minutes without opting to pour hot glue into their own eyes and ears just to make it stop
Sequins, feathers, bondage and Madonna … Israel hits top notes with Eurovision
Political rancour fails to dampen the Eurovision song contest final in Tel AvivThe Netherlands has won the Eurovision song contest with pop star Duncan Laurence’s entry Arcade
Eurovision song contest 2019 won by the Netherlands’ Duncan Laurence
Dancers wearing Palestinian and Israeli flags embraced at the climax of her song Future, with Madonna beseeching the crowd to ‘wake up’In her much-anticipated and politically contentious performance at Eurovision in Israel, Madonna made an apparent call for peace in the region
Madonna makes call for Israel-Palestine unity at Eurovision
Amnesty International fears its staff may be ‘surveilled via NSO Pegasus software’The Israeli firm linked to this week’s WhatsApp hack is facing a lawsuit backed by Amnesty International, which says it fears its staff may be under surveillance from spyware installed via the messaging service
Israeli firm linked to WhatsApp spyware attack faces lawsuit
Israeli government, pro-Palestinian activists and Orthodox rabbis have sought to politicise proceedingsEurovision’s 2019 finals are due to kick off in Israel on Saturday night, the climax to a heated run-up that as well as musical performances has included pro-Palestinian boycott calls and raised fears a war with Gaza might scupper the entire event
Eurovision finals to air in Tel Aviv in politically charged contest
Israeli academics warn of conflating Palestinian BDS movement with antisemitismGermany’s Bundestag has become the first parliament in Europe to pass a motion that defines the BDS movement for boycott, divestment and sanctions against Israel as antisemitic
German parliament declares Israel boycott campaign antisemitic
The must-see moments of the show, which will be broadcast from Tel Aviv on SaturdayThe Eurovision song contest is upon us once again, but with the grand final scheduled for three hours and 40 minutes non-stop, it’s not for the faint-hearted