Controversy over Dutch TV parody of Israel’s Eurovision winner song
A Dutch parody of Israeli Eurovision winner Netta Barzilai has caused a diplomatic stir after Israel’s Embassy in the Netherlands lodged a formal complaint to the Dutch TV channel that broadcast the video.
The sketch, which was aired on Sunday night, appeared on a satirical show by popular Dutch comedian Sanne Wallis de Vries, featuring a singer who has replicated Barzilai’s kimono and distinctive hairstyle and replaced the words of her Eurovision winning song “Toy” with new lyrics criticising Israel’s mistreatment of Palestinians.
Israel’s ambassador to The Hague also sent a letter of protest to the Foreign Ministry and Central Jewish Board, the umbrella group for Holland’s Jewish community.
“Freedom of speech, freedom of the press and satire, are important elements of a democratic and pluralistic society, as exists in the Netherlands and Israel,” said the letter. “We cherish and respect these principles, yet in that show you went too far.”
Israelis “don’t rejoice when Palestinians are killed,” the letter explained, adding that the impression of Barzilai and the overall performance were good, “but all the rest was very problematic”.
The song quickly went viral and made the rounds on social media.
Dutch comedian @SanneWallis blasts Israel in her pilot episode with spoof of Eurovision winner ‘Toy’
”Look how beautifully I launch missiles’ pic.twitter.com/kO86EvuPLH
— Achmat X (@AchmatX) May 22, 2018
In response, the TV station denied accusations of anti-Semitism, saying: “The parody questions Israel’s policy and is emphatically not an indictment against the Jewish community.”
