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🇮🇱 Israel’s far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has appointed six members from families of bereaved Israelis as official “inspectors” empowered to oversee the prison conditions of Palestinians sentenced to death and to be present at their executions, the Jerusalem Post reported. People close to Ben Gvir told Israel’s Channel 12 the goal of the appointments is “to worsen the conditions” for Palestinian prisoners, as the cabinet minister also cut the number of professional inspectors to fewer than 20 and replaced them with relatives of slain Israelis. The move is intended to “restore deterrence,” Ben Gvir said; critics say it is an open invitation to cruelty and vengeance.

Israel deserves to be represented on every stage around the world, a cause to which I am fully and actively committed. I am pleased that Israel will once again participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, and I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding. Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to contribute and compete at Eurovision. This decision demonstrates solidarity, fellowship, and cooperation, and reinforces the spirit of affinity between nations through culture and music.