DN Opinion. Israel welcomes lgbtq people

Over the last few weeks Sweden's participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest debated in both traditional and social media. The debate has been marred by the demands of the boycott, which in the submitter on the DN Review of Gunnar Olofsson (may 4).

Israel was crowned in the year to the winner of the Eurovision. This year's final is held traditionally in the host.

The long-standing infected, the conflict between Israel and Palestine and forced millions of civilians to live with on a daily basis. Meningsskillnaderna if those who are responsible are many and at the same time deep-rooted.

many pages. The only thing anyone can agree on is that it is a terrible conflict that needs to see its end.

at the same time, it must be noted that the critics reached the height of double standards and hypocrisy. Eurovision used as a weapon of the debaters had used the excuse at any time to be able to criticise the state of Israel, regardless of how unjustified the criticism is. It is not serious.

the Eurovision is a competition that attracts a wide and mixed audience who are united in their love for dance, celebration and music. Through that the audience can unite in their diversity, also have the competition attracted a large audience among lgbtq people. Few countries can welcome the audience as well as Israel.

not only the Eurovision this year. Each year, the house where Asia's largest – and the Middle east single – Pride-festival that annually attracts over 200,000 visitors.

As the only country in the Middle east who care about lgbt rights is Israel out from among its neighbours. It is more than what one can say about how the situation looks like in countries such as Azerbaijan and Russia, which both have been hosts for Eurovision. Where the persecuted homosexual in a systematic way by the lack of rights, intimidation, violence and assumptions of abusive legislation like anti-gay laws adopted in Russia in 2013.

Both Azerbaijan, which Russia ends up in the bottom of the sea when the umbrella of ILGA (the International lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex association) ranks the countries of the world in lgbt issues (the Rainbow Europe index). Where were the protests when these countries were hosts for the world's largest music and entertainment?

that the entertainment shall särhållas from the policy. But for some reason don't apply this motto when it comes to Israel.

It is time to stop with the double standards and hypocrisy. Eurovision in Israel ought to be associated with dance, party and music - not with bojkottskrav and disguised excuses to be allowed to criticize the state of Israel.

Israel like all other countries can be criticized – both by the within and the outside the country itself - but the ability to criticize, however, should not be mistaken for wanting to vent their hatred against the country.