After the Gaza agreement, Albert Verlinde demands that AvroTros still participate in the Eurovision Song Contest. “I think right now we need the world to hold each other a little.”
There is finally peace between Israel and Hamas and that means an end to a lot of bloodshed in the Middle East. It was precisely because of all that bloodshed that AvroTros threatened not to go to the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel also participated. Even now that the Gaza agreement has been concluded, the broadcaster still stands by its position.
‘Pity about AvroTros’
Albert Verlinde is tired of this and actually has no desire to deal with AvroTros at all. “You know what I had today? It was such a beautiful day. I mean, I just want to say it: when you see the images of the hostages being released, when you see the images of the prisoners being released…”
He continues RTL Tonight: “I want to hold on to that feeling for a while. I know that there will be a lot of hassle afterwards, but then I thought: I don’t feel like complaining about this. What I only think is a shame about AvroTros is that they are digging themselves in so much. They of course said very firmly: ‘If Israel participates, then we will not participate.’”
‘Go to Eurovision!’
They also repeated that again, according to Albert. “When I see what is happening now, you see that many of those other countries were not so adamant about it at all. Ultimately, you may be left with three countries that also agree. Then you may soon be completely alone.”
He concludes: “I hope that AvroTros will listen and talk and perhaps also express their concerns and stick with it. I think that right now we need the world to hold each other a little and celebrate that festival.”