At the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which took place on December 4 in Geneva, representatives from these countries insisted on holding a secret vote regarding Israel's participation in the upcoming contest. Israel has come under suspicion of manipulating the voting process, particularly in connection with the support for contestant Yuval Rafael, who became a victim of a Hamas terrorist attack at the Nova music festival in October 2023.
Some participants of "Eurovision 2025" expressed the opinion that Israel's actions contradict the rules meant to ensure the neutrality of the contest. In light of the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip, they threatened to boycott if Israel is allowed to participate in 2026.
According to Reuters, the question of Israel's admission divided the contest participants. Germany, as one of the key sponsors, stated that it would be willing to withdraw from participation if Israel is included in the list of participants.
EBU, for its part, decided not to hold a vote on this issue, citing new rules aimed at preventing government influence on the contest.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog characterized the EBU's decision as "a valuable gesture of solidarity and cooperation," emphasizing a victory over attempts to silence Israel.
The Eurovision contest in 2025 was won by Austrian singer JJ (Johannes Pitch) with the song "Wasted Love." The event in 2026 will take place in Vienna from May 12 to 16.
