Ireland, Spain, Slovenia and the Netherlands will boycott next year’s Eurovision after Israel was given the all-clear to compete in the 2026 song contest despite calls by several participating broadcasters for its exclusion over the war in Gaza.
No vote on Israel’s participation was held on Thursday at the general assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the body that organises the hugely popular international annual singing competition.
Instead, participating broadcasters voted only to introduce new rules designed to stop governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters.
Why the hell was Israel allowed to participate? It’s not like there is any sort of ecoconomic loss from kicking Israel out.
The actual reason is that Israel is a part of the EBU, as are countries like Turkey, Algeria, and Morocco. Technically any of these member states can participate, they just choose not to. This is also why Australia and Azerbaijan are in Eurovision! It’s a kind of wacky roster, which is part of what makes it highly entertaining, in my opinion. Of course, I will not be watching it this year for the first time in many years.
I think there is a huge economic loss. Every country pays a fee, if one country leaves the fee for the other countries goes up. The fee is not equal, some countries pay way more. It went up when Russia was banned and some countries could no longer afford the fee. I think Israel pays heaps. But if Ireland, Spain are boycotting obviously that is also bad as they will also be paying heaps.
The Jewish State of Israel has been competing in Eurovision for over 3000 years. They have a long and established legacy of being in the contest. I was digging around in the Levant and I even found an old trophy and some VHS tapes from the 3rd century AD with an Israeli winner’s name printed on it.
Suggesting that they should not be allowed to participate is anti-semitic. It is a clear violation of the most basic and fundamental human rights of the Israeli people. And it is a clear attempt to silence the beautiful voices of the only nation on the coast of the Mediterranean that champions life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Your comments are being registered. Your personal id has been recorded. Bombers are headed to your position. I hope you realize what an awful person you are for suggesting Israel shouldn’t be allowed to participate during your last 8 minutes of existence.
I honestly can’t tell if this is sarcasm or not…
“… I even found an old trophy and some VHS tapes from the 3rd century AD with an Israeli winner’s name printed on it.”
Does that help?
You gotta understand that these people believe that children are necrophiliac rapists who go on massacres.
I’m out.
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The event’s main sponsor is an Israeli company.
Ok, I didn’t know that.
Didn’t Eurovision ban pride flags last year?
They are doing this because they are shit people and so is their remaining audience.
All flags are banned except for national flags.
Moroccan oil is the main sponsor.
Hint: it’s not a Moroccan company.