Should Ireland boycott this year's Eurovision in Israel?

Zoe Lawlor is a spokesperson for the Palestinian Rights Campaign, who have started a petition calling on RTÉ not to participate in the contest.

She says there is broad support for Palestine in Ireland, and that the campaign's stance is "because of Israel's war crimes, its oppression of the Palestinian people, the apartheid nature of the state and because Palestinian civil society has called for a boycott since 2005, which we support."

"We don't feel it's appropriate for our state broadcaster or any Irish artist to perform just down the road from where Palestinians are being shot down in Gaza, while they're protesting for their legally guaranteed right of return."

This will be the third time Israel has hosted the Eurovision, but it's not the first country to be the subject of controversy.

Azerbaijan, which hosted in 2012, was criticised for its human rights issues, while concerns were raised about Russia from LGBT groups.

Eurovision expert Paul Jordan says Ireland is not the only country calling for a boycott.

"Iceland is the most predominantly anti-Israel participant in Eurovision this year."

"There is definitely a movement there, but at the same time it isn't a political event, it is a TV show, and I think we need to remember that as well."