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The Eurovision Song Contest faces a pivotal moment today as organizers and participating nations convene in Geneva to address critical questions surrounding Israel’s continued involvement in the competition. The discussions are set against a backdrop of widespread protests concerning the humanitarian situation in Gaza and allegations of unfair voting practices.
Several countries, including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia, have indicated their intent to boycott Eurovision if Israel participates. Conversely, Germany has signaled it would withdraw if Israel were to be excluded. This meeting follows anti-Israel demonstrations that attempted to disrupt both the 2024 and 2025 contests, citing the rising death toll in Gaza.
During this year’s grand final in Basel, Switzerland, two individuals were apprehended after attempting to storm the stage and throw paint at Israel’s contestant, Yuval Raphael, who survived the 7 October Hamas attack in 2023. Raphael ultimately secured second place, buoyed by a significant public vote victory.
However, this outcome sparked controversy, with several nations accusing Israel’s government of artificially inflating its position through a paid advertising campaign across Europe, urging votes for their entry. While Israel has not directly addressed these claims, it has frequently asserted it is the target of a global smear campaign.
In response to these concerns, Eurovision organizers recently announced a tightening of the competition’s voting rules to curb governmental influence on results. Without explicitly naming Israel, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) stated it would “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns,” particularly those “undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or governmental agencies.”
New measures include limiting fans to 10 votes each, a reduction from 20, and enhanced mechanisms to detect “fraudulent or co-ordinated voting activity.” The EBU expressed optimism that these changes will reassure members of its commitment to “protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest.”
Millenium TV understands that these new rules are intended to alleviate concerns regarding Israel’s presence. The package of measures will be presented to EBU members, including the outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie, at the organization’s biannual general meeting today. Should the members remain unconvinced, a vote on Israel’s future in the contest will proceed.
Natalija Gorščak, president of the management board at Slovenian broadcaster RTV, told reporters she anticipates a vote in Israel’s favor, which would lead to Slovenia’s withdrawal from participating in or broadcasting the contest. “We need to follow our principles and I think this is the correct way,” Gorščak stated, emphasizing the importance of being “on the right side of history.”
Eurovision expert Paul Jordan characterized the situation as “a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU,” lamenting that an event intended to be apolitical has become a “political football.”
The 2026 contest is slated to be held in Vienna, Austria, following their competitor JJ’s victory this year. A vote on Israel’s participation was initially scheduled for November but was postponed after a ceasefire declaration in the Gaza Strip on October 10.
Roland Weissman, director general of Austrian broadcaster ORF, the host of next year’s event, met with Israel’s Eurovision team and Israeli President Isaac Herzog, later telling reporters that Israel is “an inseparable part of Eurovision.”
However, this sentiment is not universally shared. Spain, a “Big Five” country with significant financial and audience contributions to Eurovision, has vowed to withdraw if Israel competes, arguing that the nation has politicized the competition. The president of Spanish broadcaster RTVE expressed to a parliamentary commission that Israel’s participation was “untenable,” describing its actions in Gaza as genocide. “As President of the (RTVE) corporation, I keep thinking that Eurovision is a contest, but human rights are not a contest,” he explained.
Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide in Gaza, where health authorities in the Hamas-controlled region report a death toll exceeding 70,000. Millenium TV has learned from an industry source that if a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would likely withdraw and not broadcast the contest.
Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN have indicated their belief that discussions about excluding Israel are unjustified, asserting that KAN fully complies with EBU regulations. On Wednesday, ahead of the EBU’s general meeting, the broadcaster issued a press release confirming it is moving forward with preparations for the 2026 contest.
© Millenium TV
