At least 4 countries pull out of Eurovision 2026 as Israel’s participation sows controversy
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Public broadcasters from at least four countries – including Spain and the Netherlands – on Thursday canceled the Eurovision Song Contest after organizers decided to allow Israel to compete. The development has revealed how political proceedings have replaced the often joyful celebration of musical harmony.
The pundutouts, joined by Ireland and Slovenia, followed the general meeting of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) – a group of public broadcasters from 56 countries who are conducting a donation for involvement in Israel, which other countries oppose because of its conduct in the war in Gaza.
Previously, the members of the Bu voted to give strong voting rules to answer the allegations that Israel showed the votes that he received for his friend, but he did not take any action to issue any release from the competition.
The POP-good-good pop music gala, which attracts more than 100 million viewers every year, has been displaced by the war in Gaza for the past two years.
A report on the website of the Icelandic Broadcaster Ruv, meanwhile, will meet next Wednesday to discuss Iceland’s participation, after its Board last week was recommended for the competition in Vienna next.
The Eurovision Song Contest is known for its often kitschy, eye-catching performance, but this year, it has become the focal point of protests against Israel’s war in Gaza.
The destructive union, in a statement sent by email to the Associated Press, said it knew that four governors – RTVE in Spain, Avrotros in the Netherlands, and Slovenia in RTVSlo – from Slovenia – said they would not participate.
“We are waiting for formal confirmation of their decision,” said the union. The final list of participating countries will be announced by Christmas.
The President of Israel, Isaac Herzog, said that he was “happy” that Israel would participate again, and they hoped that “music, friendship between cultural understanding, and cultural understanding.
“Thank you to all our friends who stood up for Israel’s right to continue to donate and compete in Eurovision,” he added.
Austria, set to host the competition after the Viennese singer JJ won this year with A Wasted Lovesupports Israel’s participation. Then it was said that Germany was behind Israel.
However, Avrotros said that Israel’s participation “is no longer compatible with the work we carry out as a public broadcaster.”
RTVE shared the same concern, expressing “great doubts about the participation of the Israeli Broadcaster Kan” according to Secretary General Alfonso Morali.
Rte said Israel’s involvement “remains incomparable to the loss of life in GAZA” and the humanitarian crisis there.
Many of the broadcasters – who use their country’s news programs and want Israel to keep them – the killing of journalists in the conflicts in the conflict in Gaza and the continuation of foreign policy.
It is politically divided
In the competition, given the 700th edition scheduled for Vienna in May, pits work from a number of nations against each other for the crown of continental music.
It strives to put pop before politics, but has often been incorporated into national events. Russia was expelled in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
But the war in Gaza has been its biggest challenge, with pro-Palestinian protesters boycotting Israel from the last two Eurovision contests in Basel, Switzerland, in May and Malmo, Sweden, in 2024.
Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain have offered to stay in the competition, if Israel is admitted.
Opponents of Israel’s involvement have criticized the conduct of the war in Gaza, which has left more than 70,000 people dead, according to health officials included.
The Israeli government has repeatedly defended its operation as a response to attacks by Hamas-led militants that began the war on Oct 7, 2023.
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The boodcottena of other European broadcasters could have consequences for views and money at a time when many broadcasters are under financial pressure from government cuts and the advent of social media.
The pundutouts include some of the biggest names in the Eurovision world.
Spain is one of the great “black” countries that contribute the most to the race. Ireland have won seven times, a record shared with Sweden.
The debate over Israel’s participation in 2026 threatens the return next year of three countries – Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania – after artistic reasons.
