The future of Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest will be a focal point at a meeting of member broadcasters in Geneva on December 4-5, 2023. This comes in response to increasing calls from several countries to boycott the event due to Israel’s actions in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Countries such as Iceland, Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands have threatened to withdraw from the 2026 contest if Israel is allowed to participate.
The issue has been brought to the forefront by AVROTROS, the Dutch broadcaster, which highlighted a “serious violation of press freedom” by Israel during the recent conflict. The broadcaster accused Israel of “proven interference” in the last edition of the Song Contest, where it secured second place, by lobbying overseas for public votes.
Calls for Boycotts Intensify
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the Eurovision, had initially planned to hold a vote on this issue in November 2023. However, the decision was postponed following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on October 10, 2023. In an effort to preempt a divisive vote, the EBU revised its voting rules to enhance “trust and transparency” among member broadcasters.
During this week’s discussions, broadcasters will evaluate whether these new measures are adequate or if a vote regarding Israel’s participation is still necessary. The host broadcaster for the 2026 contest, ORF from Austria, has expressed a desire to reach a consensus that would allow for maximum participation in the event.
Despite this, discontent persists among several broadcasters regarding the EBU’s recent changes. The public broadcaster of Iceland, RUV, announced last week that it would call for Israel’s expulsion from the contest before confirming its own participation. Spain’s RTVE reiterated its intention to boycott if Israel is involved, citing political manipulation of the contest and a lack of accountability for Israel’s conduct. RTVE President Jose Pablo Lopez remarked, “Israel has politically used the contest, has tried to influence the outcome, and has not been sanctioned for this conduct.”
Impact of Rule Changes on Israel’s Participation
Additionally, Slovenia’s public broadcaster indicated a likelihood of abstaining from the contest, as its recent budget did not allocate funds for participation. However, if a vote at the EBU General Assembly results in Israel’s exclusion, RTV Slovenija Chief Natasja Gorscak stated the broadcaster would then propose to participate.
Changes in EBU rules were prompted by the observation that Israeli acts received limited support from professional juries but significantly benefited from public votes in the last two contests. This dynamic saw Eden Golan rise from the bottom of the jury rankings to fifth place in Malmo, Sweden in 2024, while Yuval Raphael secured second place in Basel, Switzerland this year.
If Israel is ultimately excluded, it would not mark the first time a broadcaster has been barred from Eurovision; Russia was excluded following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, while Belarus was barred following political unrest in 2021.
The outcome of the upcoming meeting in Geneva will have significant implications not only for Israel but for the integrity and future of the Eurovision Song Contest itself.
