Debate among Eurovision organizers on whether Israel should be excluded from the contest

Public broadcasters are currently discussing whether Israel should be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest due to alleged interference in last year's competition and its ongoing military actions in Gaza. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which coordinates the event, started a two-day meeting on Thursday to address the contentious issue, ahead of the 70th edition in Vienna next May.

The debate, which has led countries like Iceland, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands to threaten withdrawal if Israel participates, was initially scheduled for a vote in November. However, following the announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas on October 10an agreement that Israel has since violated nearly 600 timesthe EBU decided to delay the vote until this weeks general assembly in Geneva.

The meeting, concluding on Friday, will also review new rules aimed at preventing governmental influence over voting outcomes. This follows accusations that Israel manipulated public voting during the 2025 contest to boost its entrant, Yuval Raphael, who secured second place despite receiving limited support from the professional jury. The surge in public votes, some of which appeared to have been orchestrated by Israeli backers, raised concerns about fairness.

Under the proposed changes by the EBU, a larger professional jury will be reinstated during the semifinal stage, holding around 50% of the vote, while the public vote will maintain the other half. If no consensus is reached regarding these new rules, a vote will be held to decide Israels participation in next years contest.

AVROTROS, the Dutch broadcaster, has accused Israel of proven interference in the 2024 competition, as well as highlighting significant breaches of press freedom during the ongoing Gaza conflict, where foreign journalists have been blocked from entering the region. On the other hand, Germany, a key supporter of Eurovision, has stated that it would withdraw if Israel is excluded. Israel has a rightful place in the Eurovision Song Contest, said Wolfram Weimer, Germanys Minister of State for Culture.

Israeli public broadcaster Kan has confirmed that it is preparing for next years event and will soon announce changes to its selection process. Kan further stated that it will present its stance on potential disqualification at the upcoming meeting.

Since its inception in 1956, the Eurovision Song Contest has attracted around 160 million viewers worldwide. Israels exclusion from the event would echo previous decisions, such as the removal of Russia following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Belarus, which was banned after the controversial re-election of President Alexander Lukashenko in 2020.

Author: Riley Thompson