Eurovision rules relating to Friday night dress rehearsal (Shalva Band controversy)

[mgpell]

There has been quite a controversy brewing during the last few rounds of israeli qualifying show (Kochav Haba). One of the favorites to win next week's final, the Shalva Band, is saying they would have to pull out of the Contest if they won. This is because the timing of the Friday night rehearsal (if they made it this far) would lead to their violation of the laws of the Jewish Sabbath. Several of the performers are religious, as is the organization - for people with special needs - who set up the band. I have tried to find in the EBU rules anything on the timing of the Friday night jury rehearsal. Someone mentioned in a news article in Israel that this has to be not more than 24 hours before the Grand Final. That would definitely present a problem - the Sabbath begins at nightfall, so the likely starting time of the Grand Final of around 9:00pm local time would not be after the end of Sabbath, and therefore no problem, but would nevertheless represent a problem for the Friday night performance. However, I could not find anything in the rules (available online at https://eurovision.tv/about/rules) about the prescribed time of the rehearsal. Does anyone know anything more about this?

 

[Lindon]

Fox News got the following statement from the EBU:

"All broadcasters commit to abide by the Contest’s rules when agreeing to participate. The rules state that each broadcaster will undertake to enter a national song and a Contestant that complies with the present rules. These rules include obligation of attendance across all rehearsals and live shows, for delegation members and contestants.
In this instance a change to the rules to exempt a Contestant from performing in both the Jury Final and the Grand Final dress rehearsal would involve disruption to the production schedule and compromise the fairness of the competition. It would also deny audiences in Tel Aviv the chance to see the home country’s participant perform in both shows. For these reasons, the Reference Group felt that it would not be possible to grant KAN's request."

 

[mgpell]

Thanks. Interesting that Fox News of all people got hold of the comment. So does the rumour that I heard have any basis of there having to be maximum 24 hours between jury rehearsal and the Contest? And if not, what would be the reasoning why the EBU couldn't move the timing of the Friday night show a few hours early?

 

[Yoozek]

If they already know they won't take part why the hell they're stealing a spot in the final from someone who could actually represent Israel.
There's no controversy. They're just idiots, then.

And if not, what would be the reasoning why the EBU couldn't move the timing of the Friday night show a few hours early?

You even serious or just trolling here. Few hours earlier there's another rehearsal. Oh, move that one too? Right, piss on the people who need to get their makeup and clothes ready while they don't want to wake up at 3am to do so. And they've just had a semifinal the evening before. Isreal singer has a break anyways since they won't participate in SF so why should you care, right?

If Israel as a country has a problem with this, Germany or some other always-ready country will happily host Eurovision instead, just drop 'em a line. Tell me if I'm wrong but no one cared about Sabbath when Netta was performing in front of the judges on Friday's night just before the final. You take part in a game, you obey it's rules. You don't - you're out. Simple as that.

 

[Sammy]

I see it like Yoozek. There's no controversy. Israel is a secular country, the contest is secular, there is no need whatsoever to change things in order to obey religious rules that are not relevant to most of the people involved in the contest.