There was no mistake that viewers of last night’s Eurovision song competition didn’t see any Lebanese performers. Lebanon withdrew from the competition because the country’s TV channel Tele-Liban told Eurovision organizers that they couldn’t broadcast any Israeli performances or possible victory celebration. Israeli singers won in 1978, 1979, and 1998. Israeli Shiri Maimon (pictured) came in fourth place last night. Lebanon would have been represented by Aline Lahoud.
Compared to Jordanian television, Tele-Liban may have taken the high road — in 1978, Jordanian television didn’t show Israel’s performance at all, so when the Israeli won, the flustered station simply lied, telling viewers that runner-up Belgium was victorious!
(Hat tip: Tom Gross)
