Polish Eurovision Star Publicly Promotes Anti-Israel Book to Hundreds of Thousands

Justyna Steczkowska, a Polish singer who represented Poland twice at Eurovision in 1995 and 2025, has publicly promoted a controversial anti-Israel book on her Instagram account, which has around 400,000 followers. The book, titled The Palestine Laboratory by Jewish-Australian author Anthony Lowenstein, alleges that Israel uses Palestinians as "testing grounds" for developing and marketing weapons, cyber warfare, and surveillance technologies. Steczkowska urged her followers to read the book to "open their eyes" and better understand the complex realities of the world.

The book, which won the 2023 Walkley Award for journalism and was adapted into a documentary series on Al Jazeera, claims Israel's long-standing control over the West Bank and Gaza serves as a laboratory for military and cyber technology tested on Palestinians before being sold globally under the label "battle-tested." It also criticizes Israel's security and political alliances with over 130 countries, including historical ties to apartheid South Africa and Pinochet's Chile, as well as current relations with India and Myanmar's military junta. Lowenstein argues that Israel's arms exports are intended to secure diplomatic immunity from international criticism.

Steczkowska has previously expressed opposition to Israel's participation in Eurovision, publicly stating she would not return to the contest as long as Israel competes. Her promotion of this book aligns with her ongoing stance against Israel's involvement in the event.

The controversy highlights the intersection of cultural events like Eurovision with broader geopolitical conflicts and the use of social media platforms by public figures to influence public opinion on sensitive international issues.