Palestinian Women Artists Ask Madonna to Cancel Eurovision

In the below letter to Madonna, over 50 Palestinian women artists came together to ask her to “support us now in our quest for freedom, justice, and equality -- and the right to thrive as artists.”
Dear Madonna,
We are Palestinian women artists writing to you from occupied Palestine and the global diaspora with the hope that you will honor our call and not perform at Eurovision in Tel Aviv. The far-right Israeli government and its supporters would love nothing more than to use your iconic artistic achievements and global philanthropy to obscure its crimes against humanity, particularly now as it ushers in the most extremist, racist government in its 71-year history.
For decades, you have spoken your truth to power and have supported marginalized communities around the world, particularly women. We are asking you to support us now in our quest for freedom, justice, and equality -- and the right to thrive as artists. Skipping Eurovision would be yet another bold act of conscience, Madonna, resonating the world over and bringing us one step closer to freedom.
Palestinians, like all people, deserve basic human rights, to feel safe in our homes and on our land, and to pursue our dreams - as equal human beings. Without freedom and rights, we cannot build our lives, let alone express ourselves and reach our full potential as artists, as you so clearly have. Too many of us are caged-in without the ability to travel and share our work with audiences, locally or internationally.
Israel controls nearly every aspect of Palestinian life, from whether we can get to work or school to whether we can live with our spouses or see our families. Israel takes our homes, our land, and our life-sustaining water. If we fall ill, we have to get permission from Israel’s military authorities to get to the hospital, permission which is all too often denied. Our children are snatched from our homes in the middle of the night, thrown in jail and subjected to abuse without warning and without reason. 500-700 Palestinian children are detained and prosecuted in Israeli military courts every single year. Can you imagine having to live this way?
We are denied the same rights as Jewish Israelis simply because we are a different religion - This is apartheid. Yet, with the rise of authoritarianism, as embodied in the Trump-Netanyahu alliance, we are finding hope in the many voices across the globe, rising in support of our rights and our freedom.
The boycott picket line worked in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa, and it was a vital part of the US civil rights movement. We believe it will help us achieve our rights, too.
When the walls come crashing down and freedom and justice finally ring, we invite you to come and share your music with all of us on this land.
Sincerely,
- Leila Abdelrazaq, graphic novelist
- Lama Abu Faris, dancer
- Mira Abu Hilal, singer
- Youmna Abu Hilal, singer
- Walaa Abu Watfa, painter
- Shahd Abusalama, dancer
- Ibtisam Ahmad, singer
- Manar Al Azza , dancer
- Lamees Amer, dancer
- Manal Awad, actor
- Nahed Awwad, filmmaker
- Hazar Azzeh, circus performer
- Salma Ataya, dancer
- Noora Baker, dancer, choreographer
- Lama Barghouti, dancer
- Nai Barghouti, singer, composer
- Rana Bishara, artist
- Farah Chamma, poet
- Cherien Dabis, filmmaker
- Maysa Daw, rapper, singer
- Alaa Sameer Elkhateeb, artist
- Jouline Faqes, dancer
- Wafa Ghnaim, tatreez artist, author
- Yasmin Hadi, dancer
- Samia Halaby, artist, writer
- Hena Haj Hasan, singer
- Dima Hamdan, filmmaker
- Zeina Hmouz, dancer
- Riham Isaac, actor, director
- Annemarie Jacir, filmmaker, poet
- Salwa Jaradat, singer
- Nivin Jayusi, singer, musician
- Majdoleen Karakra, dancer
- Maya Khaldi, singer
- Muna Khalidi, filmmaker
- Hannah Khalil, playwright
- Sali Kharobi, dancer
- Tala Khouri, musician
- Dareen Mahajneh, dancer
- Carol Mansour, filmmaker
- Malak Mattar, painter
- Jenin Merri, dancer
- Yasmeen Mjalli, fashion designer
- Ashtar Muallem, circus performer, dancer
- Haneen Nazzal, graphic and animation artist
- Mai Odeh, filmmaker, producer
- Iman Oun, actor, director
- Nayrouz Qarmout, writer
- Anmar Rafeedie, dancer
- Lure Sadeq, actor, musician, dancer
- Farah Saleh, dancer, choreographer
- Leila Sansour, filmmaker
- Raneem Sarhan, dancer
- Niveen Sawi, singer
- Yasmin Sameer Shaladah, actor
- Dareen Tatour, poet
- Ghada Terawi, filmmaker
- Renad Uri, dancer