Under pressure from trade union, VRT broadcasts video as a protest against Israel’s participation in Songfestival: « Silence is not an option »

The campaign film was shown on Tuesday evening at VRT 1 for Dailyfor The news from 7 pm and before the start of the semi -final of the Eurovision Song Contest at 9 pm. The video is also broadcast several times in the rest of the week. According to the organizations, the broadcast will come from the trade union after pressure.

« Silence is not an option and as a trade union we make every effort to make us heard, » said Wies Descheemaeker, chairman of ACOD-VRT. « In recent weeks, both ourselves and the public broadcaster have been threatened with censorship, restricting freedom of expression and the syndical freedoms. »

The video has been circulating on social media since March. In the video, more than 130 famous Flemish people, including Pommelien Thijs, Laura Tesoro, Elisabeth Lucie Baeten and Koen Wauters, speak out against Israeli violence in Gaza. According to Oxfam Belgium, the campaign has already collected more than 67,000 signatures for a permanent ceasefire, humanitarian aid for Palestinian citizens and economic measures for Israel.

« Given the recent developments in Gaza and the West Bank, the ongoing occupation and military violence by Israel, this campaign is more topical than ever, » said Eva Smets of Oxfam Belgium. « Israel’s participation in Eurosong, as if nothing is wrong, interpelles us. »