A significant division has surfaced in a globally renowned singing competition.
Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have declared they will not participate in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest following the decision to allow Israel’s participation.
No official vote regarding Israel’s entry was conducted during the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) general assembly on Thursday, which oversees the contest.
The meeting also introduced new regulations designed to prevent governments and third parties from unfairly influencing voting, addressing claims that Israel favored its contestant in this year’s competition.
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Shortly after the announcement, broadcasters from the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland stated their withdrawal, indicating their artists will not join one of the most-viewed cultural events worldwide.
Ireland’s state broadcaster, RTÉ, termed participation as “unthinkable given the dreadful civilian casualties in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis endangering countless lives.”
Natalija Gorščak, leader of Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTV Slovenija, confirmed her country’s exit to Reuters, saying, “Our stance is: we will not join the ESC if Israel is present. This is in memory of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza.”
The Dutch broadcaster NPO determined “that under the present conditions, participation cannot align with the public values central to our institution.”
The broadcasters that threatened a boycott cited the high casualty rate in Gaza and accused Israel of breaching rules that ensure the contest’s impartiality.
The issue has deeply split Eurovision participants, a competition long recognized for mirroring geopolitical tensions and rivalries.
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog supported the EBU’s decision, stating, “I am delighted that Israel will once again join the Eurovision Song Contest. I hope the event will continue to promote culture, music, international friendship, and cross-border understanding.”
Germany, a major Eurovision supporter, confirmed it would not withdraw even if Israel had been excluded.
Before the ruling, Israeli public broadcaster KAN had already started preparations for next year’s contest. Israel’s 2025 representative, Yuval Raphael, was present at the Nova music festival targeted during the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel, which sparked the ongoing Gaza conflict.
According to Israeli reports, 1,200 individuals were killed and 251 taken hostage during the Hamas assault. Gaza health officials report over 70,000 deaths in the subsequent conflict.
