"The Eurovision should make a statement by not having the Eurovision in Jerusalem next year."
Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan has called for Ireland to boycott next year's contest if it's going to be held in Israel.
In an interview with Joe Duffy on
RTÉ Radio 1, the Rock 'n' Roll Kids singer said that "the Eurovision should make a statement by not having the Eurovision in Jerusalem next year."
"I think the people who organise the Eurovision should make a statement by not having the Eurovision in Jerusalem next year, that they should have it somewhere else. I think they need to make a decision, but if they don’t. I think we (Ireland) need to make the decision not to go," he said.
Earlier this week, 58 Palestinian people were killed and over 2,700 others were injured when Israeli forces opened fire on a group of protesters in Gaza.
He adds: "It was dreadful yesterday, seeing Netanyahu and the Trumps celebrating while people are dead. It's frightening."
McGettigan won the '94 Eurovision with Paul Harrington and he feels that the countries that compete in the Eurovision have a chance to make an important statement by boycotting next year's event.
"It's a chance for the whole of Europe who are involved in Eurovision to make a statement and sort of say, 'Look, we don't agree with this, to celebrate while other people are dying'. The Eurovision, first of all, should be encouraged to boycott it and have it in another country and if they don't, we (Ireland) shouldn't go."
The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 is set to take place in Tel Aviv in May.
