The Eurovision Song Contest is experiencing its biggest crisis in history due to tensions erupting over Israel’s continued participation. On Thursday, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain, and Slovenia withdrew from the competition; more countries are expected to join the boycott. The withdrawal of countries like Ireland and the Netherlands, which have achieved numerous victories in the past, has made the deep rift within the Eurovision family visible.
The Controversy Over Israel’s Participation
Tensions have been escalating for a long time due to the war in Gaza and Israel’s controversial voting campaigns.
Israel’s participation in the competition, after coming first in this year’s public vote, created sharp divisions among the countries. Israel, however, described the decision as “a victory against those who want to silence us.” At Thursday’s critical EBU summit, there was no direct vote for Israel; however, the country’s participation was tied to the acceptance of proposals that tighten public voting and campaign rules. 65% of members supported the new rules. This result opened the door for Israel’s continuation while prompting some countries to withdraw from the competition.Strong Reaction from European Broadcasters
Spain, in particular, stated that this crisis was “avoidable for life” and declared that it had lost confidence in the EBU administration. RTVE President José Pablo López argued that Eurovision had succumbed to political and commercial pressures. He said that the allegations of voting manipulation should be addressed by the administration, and that leaving it to the initiative of the members was a mistake. Israel denies all accusations.
More Boycotts May Follow
Countries like Iceland, Belgium, and Finland will announce their decisions in the coming days. Eurovision expert Dean Vuletic said, “The coming weeks will be tense, we are likely to see more boycotts.” The deadline for participation is December 10.Press Freedom Debate
A key point in the EBU’s statement was the call from many broadcasters to protect the independence of public service media. The independence of Israel’s public broadcaster Kan from the government is one of the main arguments of those defending the country’s continued participation in the competition.
Some experts say that the severance of Kan’s Eurovision connection could have negative consequences for press freedom in the country. Spain’s withdrawal creates a significant gap in the competition’s funding. Without Spain, a major contributor, the costs will fall on other participants, particularly countries like France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. If more countries withdraw, these contributions will increase even further.Can the Competition Survive?
According to experts, the competition is “heavily wounded but alive”. While the loss of four countries is partially offset by the return of Moldova, Romania, and Bulgaria, there is great disappointment among viewers. The fact that some musicians do not want to share the stage with Israel may also make the 2026 competition more difficult.
Nevertheless, the EBU maintains its hope as Eurovision approaches its 70th anniversary. Roland Weissmann from Austrian broadcaster ORF said, “Eurovision advocates for unity through music even in the midst of crises. We discuss, we listen, and in the end, we find solutions through democratic means.” However, it remains unclear whether the ties broken on Thursday can be repaired. It remains unclear whether the ties broken on Thursday can be restored. It remains unclear whether the ties broken on Thursday can be repaired.
