EBU decision and a wave of sharp protests
On Thursday, after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) officially allowed Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, sharp controversy and discontent arose around the music competition. A number of European countries have proposed excluding Israel from the competition against the backdrop of the war in Gaza, as these military actions are causing serious humanitarian consequences.
Countries such as Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia objected to this decision and announced a boycott of next year's competition.
Secret ballot declined
These countries requested that the Israeli issue be resolved through a closed vote at the ECO General Assembly. However, at a meeting in Geneva, this requirement was not accepted, and instead, new rules based on agreement were adopted. "Eurovision-2026 will be held in the planned format, but with enhanced security measures," the official statement of the EBU stated firmly.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog approved the EBU's decision, calling it "a symbol of solidarity and friendship against those who want to silence Israel."
G5 relegation: a serious blow
Initially, the Dutch national television company announced that Avrotros would withdraw from the competition, stating that this situation did not align with their public values. Following this, Spain also announced its suspension of participation and the competition.
This is of decisive importance, since Spain, as a member of the "Big Five," is one of the largest contributors to the financing of the competition.
The boycott of some major European countries could be a serious blow to the prestige and unity of the music competition. It is becoming increasingly evident that the political conflict surrounding Israel's participation is turning the choice into a geopolitical arena, not a musical one.
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