Dublin Lord Mayor Micheal Mac Donncha calls for boycott of Eurovision 2019
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Dublin Lord Mayor Micheal Mac Donncha calls for boycott of Eurovision 2019

THE Sinn Féin politician has suggested Ireland boycott the competition entirely due to the event being held in the country of Israel.

Israel's current conflict with Palestine has influenced the Dublin Lord Mayor's decision, citing the oppression the nation of Palestine is currently experiencing as the reason for Ireland not entering an act as a sign of allegiance with them.

The councillor for Sinn Féin and Mayor of the country's capital feels so strongly about supporting the Palestinian people that he has suggested Ireland not enter a representative at all.

Speaking to Dublin Live, Lord Mayor Mac Donncha said he would back Ireland boycotting the Eurovision tournament in 2019.

The Lord Mayor said: "I would support that, I don't think we should send a representative [to the Eurovision]".

He said the plight of the Palestinian nation at the hands of Israel is sufficient grounds enough for a boycott of the competition: "I think the horrific ordeal of the Palestinian people needs to be highlighted."

He even compared the Israeli subjugation of Palestine to the former apartheid regime in South Africa: "There needs to be solidarity just as there was with the people of South Africa with the apartheid regime."

Lord Mayor Mac Donncha said an Irish campaign has already agreed to boycott the Israeli state in a show of supporting Palestine: "The Irish-Palestine solidarity campaign has collected the names of 500 artists who have said they would not work in the state of Israel, that they would boycott it in the protest and the treatment of the Palestinian people."

It seems the Dublin Lord Mayor is not alone in his views, as Irish people took to Twitter to advocate for a freeing of Palestine from Israeli power.

Israel won the Eurovision 2018 competition in Lisboa, Portugal with the performance of 'Toy' by musical artist Netta and the singing contest is due to be held in Jerusalem next year.