08 May 2019 | 11:50 AM UTC
Israel/Palestinian Terr.: Eurovision contest in Tel Aviv May 14-18
Tel Aviv hosts Eurovision Song Contest on May 14-18; heightened security, including at customs and immigration, and transportation disruptions expected
Event
Tel Aviv will host the Eurovision Song Contest from Tuesday, May 14, to Saturday, May 18. The concerts will be held at Expo Tel Aviv. Heightened security measures, including road closures, checkpoints, and increased security personnel, are expected in the area along with associated transportation disruptions. Additionally, increased screening is expected at all immigration ports of entry as authorities announced they will block activists from entering the country. Long wait times are likely at customs and immigration checkpoints. Protests and demonstrations in Tel Aviv and other cities cannot be ruled out.
Context
Israel's hosting of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest has resulted in calls by activists to boycott or disrupt the performances to protest Israel's policies regarding Palestine.
Tensions between Gaza and Israel have increased recently as militants and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) bombarded positions in Gaza and southern Israel with rockets and airstrikes from Friday, May 3, to Monday, May 6. In general, rocket fire and strikes between Israel and Gaza have intensified since December 2017.
Advice
Individuals in or traveling to Tel Aviv, and Israel more generally, are advised to monitor the situation, avoid any protests as a precaution, refrain from discussing political subjects in public or on social media, and anticipate localized disruptions, heightened security measures, and increased screening at customs and immigration.
