[The Human Santapede]

The organisation behind the Eurovision Song Contest has confirmed it will hold a vote on whether or not Israel should be allowed to participate next year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) confirmed it will invite 68 member countries to give their view at a general assembly meeting in early November.

A decision will be taken by a simple majority, meaning that if more than 50% of members vote to exclude Israel, the country would not take part in 2026.

Israel's continued participation in Eurovision has been controversial due to the ongoing war in Gaza, and several countries had already called for their exclusion.

The EBU confirmed all 68 member countries would be invited to vote, including broadcasters who don't take part in Eurovision such as Tunisia, Egypt, Turkey, Algeria, Jordan and Lebanon.

Israel came second in the the most recent Eurovision Song Contest in May, with its act Yuval Raphael receiving the largest combined public vote.

However, the inclusion of jury votes led to Austria being declared the overall winner, and the next contest is scheduled to take place in Vienna.

In recent weeks, countries including Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland and Spain have all said they would consider dropping out of Eurovision if Israel's involvement continued.

The Irish broadcaster, RTÉ, said that Ireland's participation in the event "would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".

The Dutch public broadcaster, Avrotros, said it too could no longer justify Israel's inclusion "given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza".

However, Israel's public broadcaster Kan said it should be allowed to take part, adding it was "one of the contest's longstanding, popular and successful participants".

"The potential disqualification of Israel's public broadcaster Kan would be especially troubling ahead of the 70th edition of the song contest, which was founded as a symbol of unity, solidarity and fellowship," a spokesman for the network said.

Austria's foreign minister also previously wrote to colleagues in six of the countries threatening a boycott, urging them to reconsider, saying that Eurovision and the arts in general are "not the appropriate arenas for sanctions".

"Excluding Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest or boycotting the event would neither ease the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to finding a sustainable political solution," Beate Meinl-Reisinger said.

In the UK, Eurovision is broadcast by the BBC. Last week, the corporation's director-general Tim Davie said he was "aware of the concerns" around Israel taking part.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 65,419 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq4e4l7dv8o.amp

[Nicky91]

let Israel participate


but majority of countries just withdraw as a boycott, to kill off the contest

[Nicky91]

those stupid EBU losers now suddenly coming with a vote


bore the **** off, pathetic if you cannot kick out Israel yourselves, but it was so easy to do against Russia and Belarus


**** off, i am done with these EBU hypocrites

[Christmas Dynasnow]

The whole contest needs to die

Its has become like a far left student politics pride parade

perhaps a real musical contest may rise from its ashes that avoids pandering to minority groups and virtue signalling?

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

The whole contest needs to die

Its has become like a far left student politics pride parade

perhaps a real musical contest may rise from its ashes that avoids pandering to minority groups and virtue signalling?

Couldn't agree more. If a foreign country wants to hear British music they can just refer to their own charts going back decades.

[Shaun]

Alternatively, if what it is meant to be - every country listening to each other's music, without some weird superiority complex - can continue without the hypocrisy of condemning some bloodshed (Russia) but not all (Israel, Azerbaijan) then that would be lovely too.

[Livia]

Oh yeah, Eurovision is just a straightforward song contest, all about the love of music. Except when Greece votes for Cyprus and Cyprus votes for Greece, and Sweden votes for Finland and Finland votes for Sweden... and people get booed and jeered because their politics is not acceptable to the few. Perhaps we should check the moral background of every country before they enter, maybe run it past the ECHR?

I don't have a "weird superiority complex" about British Music. It's clearly superior.

[Merry Mockmas]

Originally Posted by Crimson Dynamo

The whole contest needs to die

Its has become like a far left student politics pride parade

perhaps a real musical contest may rise from its ashes that avoids pandering to minority groups and virtue signalling?

Tbf, Eurovision has always been a very left leaning Show.

However I don't support Israel possibly being removed from the competition.

If you don't want Israel to win Eurovision then don't vote for them, it's honestly that simple.

[Cherry Christmas]

This sounds like a receipe for disaster unless they keep the votes secret, it will cause even more division

[Nicky91]

at least i can play my Nickyvision contests by myself, way more fun either


and in a fantasy contest, i can pretend we have like 45 countries taking part or something

[Livia]

I've been in Israel this week. Generally, they are FAR more concerned about Western countries recognising a terrorist state than they are about a song contest.

[The Human Santapede]

Eurovision faces crucial decision over Israel

The Eurovision Song Contest faces a battle for its future at a "watershed" meeting in Geneva on Thursday.

Organisers and participating countries will debate whether Israel should be allowed to continue in the competition, amid protests over the way its government conducted its war in Gaza, and accusations of unfair voting practices.

Countries including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia have said they will boycott Eurovision if Israel participates. Germany has indicated it will pull out if Israel is excluded.

The meeting comes after anti-Israel protesters attempted to disrupt both the 2024 and 2025 contests, citing their opposition to the Palestinian death toll in Gaza.

During this year's grand final in Basel, Switzerland, two people attempted to storm the stage and throw paint over Israel's contestant, Yuval Raphael. They were stopped by crew members and later arrested.

Raphael eventually took second place in the contest, after a convincing victory in the public vote.

However, the result triggered a backlash from other countries, who said Israel's government had artificially boosted their position through a broad, paid-for advertising campaign, urging people across Europe to vote for their song.

Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign.

Last month, Eurovision organisers announced they were tightening the competition's voting rules to limit the influence of governments on the results.

Without naming Israel, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it would "discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns", particularly if they were "undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or governmental agencies".

It also announced that fans would only be able to cast 10 votes each, down from 20; and that steps would be taken to improve the detection of "fraudulent or co-ordinated voting activity".

"We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest," the EBU said.

It is hoped that the new rules will be enough to assuage participants' concerns over Israel's presence at the contest.

The package will be put to EBU members - including the outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie - at the organisation's biannual general meeting on Thursday.

If they are not convinced the changes are adequate, there will be a vote on Israel's future.

Natalija Gorščak, president of the management board at Slovenian broadcaster RTV, told BBC News she expected such a vote to go in Israel’s favour.

If that were to happen, Slovenia would refuse to participate in or broadcast the contest.

“I know that fans in Slovenia are disappointed,” Gorščak said. “I'm a fan as well and it's so bad because Vienna is so close to us and we won't be able to go.

“But still, we need to follow our principles and I think this is the correct way. Sometimes we need to be on the right side of history and this is the moment we are on the right side of history.”

Eurovision expert Paul Jordan called the situation “a real crisis point for Eurovision and the EBU“.

"There are no winners here. And it's a great shame that something which is meant to be apolitical has actually become a bit of a political football."

A vote on Israel's participation was originally due to take place in November, but it was cancelled after the declaration of a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip on 10 October.

Roland Weissman, director general of Austrian broadcaster ORF - which will host next year's contest in Vienna - subsequently travelled to Israel to meet with its Eurovision team and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.

There, he told reporters that Israel is "an inseparable part of Eurovision". Others disagree.

Spain, one of the "Big Five" countries that contribute significant funding and audiences to Eurovision, has pledged to withdraw if Israel competes, saying the country had used the competition politically.

Speaking to a parliamentary commission, the president of Spanish broadcaster RTVE said he felt Israel's participation was "untenable", calling its actions in Gaza a genocide.

"As President of the (RTVE) corporation, I keep thinking that Eurovision is a contest, but human rights are not a contest," he said.

Israel has consistently denied accusations of genocide in Gaza, where the death toll has surpassed 70,000, according to Hamas-run health authorities.

If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told the Reuters news agency.

Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN said it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules.

On Wednesday, pre-empting the EBU's general meeting, the broadcaster issued a press release confirming it was pressing ahead with its preparations for the 2026 contest.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx2gq5q5

[Nicky91]

possibly Finland, Belgium, Portugal withdrawing too if Israel isn't excluded from the contest

[The Grinch]

It’s a lose-lose either way, people will leave if they stay or go

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by The Grinch

It’s a lose-lose either way, people will leave if they stay or go

I think either way, we may see Kazakhstan and Canada invited to participate in 2026 to make up numbers.

[The Grinch]

Originally Posted by The Human Santapede

I think either way, we may see Kazakhstan and Canada invited to participate in 2026 to make up numbers.

Would America not get an invite too?

[Yuki Maru Hoshi]

Why even hype this up? They have had plenty of time to make a decision

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by The Grinch

Would America not get an invite too?

No. Their broadcaster isn’t an associate of EBU.

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by Yuki Maru Hoshi

Why even hype this up? They have had plenty of time to make a decision

It was meant to have been in November but was pushed back to today.

[Parmy]

Let them sing, but let Hamas judge.

[Livia]

Originally Posted by Parmy

Let them sing, but let Hamas judge.

LOL... I think the BBC might actually back this.

I'd rather Israel told the Eurovision lot to shove it where the sun don't shine. The lefties and the luvvies have chosen a side, let's hope they'll always be happy with the side they've chosen. I once heard Eurovision described as The Gay Olympics and no one likes a big gay party more Hamas, right?

[Nicky91]

Originally Posted by Livia

LOL... I think the BBC might actually back this.

I'd rather Israel told the Eurovision lot to shove it where the sun don't shine. The lefties and the luvvies have chosen a side, let's hope they'll always be happy with the side they've chosen. I once heard Eurovision described as The Gay Olympics and no one likes a big gay party more Hamas, right?

doubt EBU will kick Israel out, as they would also lose Germany then


and rather losing Spain of the Big 5 than Germany, i think


also MoroccanOil is the contest's biggest sponsor, so kicking Israel out they would also lose that then

[Nicky91]

i'm watching the contest either way so i don't care too much what they decide


if no Netherlands because of Israel, then i am more neutral, and that could also be good fun i think

[The Human Santapede]

Originally Posted by Nicky91

doubt EBU will kick Israel out, as they would also lose Germany then


and rather losing Spain of the Big 5 than Germany, i think


also MoroccanOil is the contest's biggest sponsor, so kicking Israel out they would also lose that then

On the other side they have Spain saying it will leave if Israel stays.

[The Human Santapede]

“According to sources, eight countries including Spain have proposed that the vote be anonymous. This proposition was made citing the statutes of the EBU. According to the rules, if at least five countries request a secret ballot, it should be implemented. ”

Oh Spain, don’t be so spineless.