by Reuters, Corrine Baum, Jerusalem Post Staff
"If no one was up in arms when Russia began its invasion, and it was exiled from global competitions and Eurovision, then the same should happen with Israel," Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez said.
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Israel will be allowed to compete in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest after no vote was called on its participation at the European Broadcasting Union, two European Broadcasting Union members told Reuters.
Members overwhelmingly voted to back new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to sway voters after allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its entrant this year, the two said.
Shortly after the announcement, the Netherlands' public broadcaster AVROTROS announced it would withdraw from the competition.
"After weighing all perspectives, AVROTROS concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organization," the statement said, adding that Israel's actions in Gaza "crossed a boundary" for the organization.
Spain also announced that it would withdraw from the competition. José Pablo López, the president of Spain's national broadcaster, RTVE, said that the decision "never should have gotten to this point."
"Sanctions against Israel for its repeated violations in Eurovision should have been adopted at the executive level rather than shifting the conflict to the assembly. Today, the EBU will be a union more shaped by political and commercial interests, of a festival that they have not been able to, or have not wanted to, manage.
"If no one was up in arms when Russia began its invasion, and it was exiled from global competitions and Eurovision, then the same should happen with Israel."
President Isaac Herzog said he was pleased at the decision to allow Israel to compete in Eurovision. " I hope that the competition will remain one that champions culture, music, friendship between nations, and cross-border cultural understanding," he said.
Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar praised the EBU decision as well.
“The European Broadcasting Union made the right decision by keeping Israel in Eurovision. Music connects people and countries, and I thank our partners for their broad support. The people of Israel will continue to create, connect, and illuminate the world," he wrote.
EBU holds a vote on Israeli participation in Eurovision
Members of the body that organizes the Eurovision Song Contest met on Thursday to vote on whether Israel can compete next year, as some countries threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded over the Gaza war.The meeting at the EBU headquarters in Geneva will address new rules intended to discourage governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to sway voters, following allegations that Israel unfairly boosted its entrant to the contest this year.
In a statement, the EBU stated that all "Members show clear support for reforms to reinforce trust and protect neutrality of Eurovision Song Contest, allowing all Members to participate."
The EBU statement added that before the vote, members discussed "a variety of views on participation" in Eurovision.
"Many Members also took the opportunity to stress the importance of protecting the independence of public service media and the freedom of the press to report, not least in conflict zones such as Gaza," the statement added.
Israel, which came second in the contest, has not responded to these accusations, but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign.
The contest faces a "watershed moment", said Eurovision expert Paul Jordan.
Critics of Israel's participation cite concerns over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The ministry does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
The war was sparked by the October 7, 2023, attack by the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas on Israel, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage and taken to Gaza.
If members are not convinced that the new rules, which aim to protect the contest's neutrality and impartiality, are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said.
Germany: No Eurovision if Israel is excluded
State for Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer told Reuters that Germany should not participate in Eurovision if Israel is excluded."Israel belongs in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC)," he said. "There must be no ESC without Israel."
German broadcaster ARD did not comment. Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.
Israeli public broadcaster KAN said it is preparing for next year's contest and will soon release changes to its selection process for choosing Israel's entry. KAN said it will present its position on possible disqualification at the meeting.
Reuters, Corrine Baum, Jerusalem Post Staff
Source: https://www.jpost.com/international/article-879151
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