On Thursday, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) began its 94th General Assembly. One of the big topics of discussion was the influence of global politics on the Eurovision Song Contest, in particular Israel’s participation.
The nation’s ongoing presence at the contest has been the centre of much debate and protest for the past two years following its actions in Gaza, where more than 55,000 people have been killed since October 2023.
Multiple international organisations have accused Israel of committing war crimes and acts of genocide during the fighting, which began after Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel.
During the General Assembly, broadcasters of those countries competing in Eurovision were able to express their views amidst a private discussion. Some have previously made their position known publicly.
Following a “constructive exchange of views,” the EBU has now indicated it intends to analyse how participation is managed amidst geopolitical tensions. An investigation will be led by an unnamed former senior TV executive, who will present their findings in autumn, ahead of the next General Assembly in December.
EBU statement following 94th General Assembly
Below is the EBU’s statement in full.
“At today’s EBU General Assembly, Members held an open and constructive discussion on the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) and the increasingly complex global context in which it takes place.
“The Assembly was a chance to celebrate the success of ESC 2025 – not just in terms of its record-breaking reach and engagement but in terms of its cultural resonance and ability to foster inclusivity, creativity, and a sense of belonging on a world stage.
“But of course, despite its extraordinary success, the Eurovision Song Contest, like many other events, is not immune to the pressures of global politics. Questions around participation have become increasingly sensitive and multifaceted, and our Members hold a wide range of perspectives on these issues, which they were able to express in detail today.
“Members had a constructive exchange of views. There was a shared understanding that this is an unprecedentedly complex situation and there is a wide diversity of opinions. Members also expressed their support for the work of the Israeli public broadcaster Kan and its independence, noting the pressure it is repeatedly experiencing from the Israeli government.
“To help us navigate the current landscape, a former senior TV executive has now been invited to lead a structured and in-depth dialogue with our Member broadcasters in the coming weeks.
“They will engage with Directors General and other stakeholders to gather insights on how we manage participation, geopolitical tensions, and how other organizations have approached similar challenges. They will report back with recommendations this autumn.
“The EBU remains committed to transparency and will continue to keep Members informed of developments in the months ahead.”
“If war continues, Israel will have a hard time staying” — sources tell Israeli media
Whilst the EBU’s statement avoids giving any detail on the discussions themselves, Israeli outlet Ynet has reported information from sources it claims to have within the General Assembly.
They state the discussion on Israel’s inclusion lasted around 90 minutes.
Ayala Mizrahi represented Israeli broadcaster Kan and noted the country’s long-standing appearance in the contest, having debuted in 1973.
Ynet reports that the only countries to show support for Israel’s participation were Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Meanwhile, Iceland and Slovenia were the two countries most outspoken against Israel’s ongoing presence.
In the end, a vote on Israel’s participation did not take place. This is reportedly in part due to the UK representative from the BBC, who asked to abstain from a vote and suggested that conversations on the matter continue over the coming weeks.
However, Ynet’s sources also report that, had a vote taken place, the majority of broadcasters would likely have not sided in Israel’s favour: “If the war continues, Israel will have a hard time staying because many countries are against it.”
RTVE: “Israel’s participation has had a negative impact on the festival’s development”
Following Thursday’s General Assembly, RTVE issued its own statement and shared the position that the Spanish broadcaster put forward during discussions.
“On the first day of the 94th EBU General Assembly held today, RTVE called for a debate on Israel’s presence in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Other countries also echoed Spain’s request.
“The Corporation’s Secretary General, Alfonso Morales, was the first to speak at the meeting and was responsible for conveying the Corporation’s position. RTVE has formally requested a ‘serious and in-depth’ debate within the EBU regarding Israel’s participation in the music festival. The Corporation has emphasised the need for the EBU to find a solution before the next General Assembly, to be held in December, after observing that Israel’s participation has had a negative impact on the festival’s development, shifting the focus to political issues rather than the cultural, artistic, or musical aspects that are at the heart of the event.
“Furthermore, RTVE considers it essential to review the voting system to minimize the impact of sympathetic votes resulting from war or armed conflicts.”
