A clear message in support of Israel’s participation in Eurovision was delivered by France’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and Europe, Jean-Noël Barrot, who firmly rejected any possibility of a boycott. At the same time, he revealed that France not only voted in favour of Israel remaining in the contest but also played a decisive role in preventing such a boycott, as he characteristically stated.

The French minister expressed his satisfaction that Eurovision “did not succumb to pressure,” stressing France’s role in stopping a potential boycott targeting Israel. At the same time, he expressed deep regret over the decisions of certain European broadcasters who chose a different course.

Barrot condemned what he described as “obscurantism” promoted by those calling for boycotts in cultural venues and universities, questioning whether “we will reach the point of banning the books of David Grossman, the films of Amos Gitaï, or concerts by artists such as Avishai Cohen and Daniel Barenboïm.”