by Guy Solo Comment Closed




“If Russia – then also Israel”: Full details on the provocative graffiti shaking Basel ahead of Eurovision 2025. Have the protesters crossed the line in their efforts to target Israel?

As the first rehearsals for Eurovision 2025 began in the city of Basel, Switzerland, graffiti started to appear across the main streets, sparking major controversy. These chalk drawings openly call for a boycott of the contest, directing harsh criticism at Israel’s participation. How did the police respond, and who is behind these graffiti messages?




Call for a Boycott: “Boycott Eurovision”

On Basel’s main street, Freie Strasse, a clear message was displayed: “Boycott Eurovision”. Johanniterbrücke, one of the city’s main bridges, was also marked with a particularly harsh statement: “No art for apartheid. Stand with Palestine”. These messages undoubtedly express a strong political stance.

The graffiti refers, among other things, to the policies of the Israeli government. This has long been a central topic in international public discourse and continues to draw growing criticism from various global actors. The graffiti does not focus solely on Israel: one of the messages on a central street also read: “Wenn Russland, dann auch Israel”, meaning: “If Russia, then also Israel.” The writers clarify their claim that just as Russia was banned from Eurovision following the war in Ukraine, Israel should also be excluded from the contest due to its operations in Gaza.

Who Is Behind the Protest?

At this stage, it is unclear who is directly responsible for these graffiti messages. However, some point toward the local activist group “Basel for Palestine”, known for its strong anti-Israel positions. This group is also currently organizing a major protest to be held on May 17, the day of the Eurovision Grand Final, aiming to voice opposition to Israel’s participation in the event.




Police Stay Out

The graffiti sparked numerous reactions across Switzerland, but the Basel-Stadt cantonal police chose not to take a firm stance on the matter. In an official response to the newspaper “20 Minuten”, the police stated: “We believe that every person – regardless of gender, nationality, religion, or sexual orientation – has the right to freely express their opinion.” The police also added: “Protecting this fundamental right is of utmost importance to us as a security authority. At the same time, we are committed to ensuring that the psychological and physical safety of all involved is maintained at all times.”

Growing Criticism

The graffiti protest joins a broader wave of demonstrations taking place across Europe ahead of this year’s Eurovision. While some countries are seeing lawful and organized protests, in Basel, certain activists chose to use particularly bold visual methods. The choice of graffiti as a medium for their message raises questions about the boundaries of free speech: on the one hand, it represents a fundamental right, but on the other hand, it raises the question of whether it is appropriate to flood public spaces with such politically charged messages—especially during a cultural event aimed at uniting nations.




Eurovision 2025: Dates and Time

The Eurovision Song Contest for 2025 will take place in May, as per tradition. Here are the exact dates:

For those wondering “What time will Eurovision 2025 air?” each event will begin at 21:00 CET.

Source: 20min

Eurovision 2025: This will be Switzerland’s 65th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland joined the competition in 1956, being one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Its most recent victory was at the last Eurovision in 2025, with Nemo’s song “The Code.” This win follows Switzerland’s previous victory in 1988 with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi,” performed by international singer Céline Dion.