Dutch courage in contest boycott

Netherlands & Phil back move

- BY CILLIAN SHERLOCK

A PUBLIC broadcaster in the Netherlands has joined RTE in a proposed boycott of Eurovision if Israel remains as a participant.

RTE and Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros have announced they will not take part in next year's contest if Israel is among the participants.

The Irish station said members of the European Broadcasting Union, which runs the contest, have raised concerns about Israel taking part.

A spokesperson for Eurovision said it was up to each state to decide if it wanted to take part.