Germany has mentioned it can withdraw if Israel shouldn’t be allowed to take part, and Austria mentioned that if there’s a boycott in opposition to Israel, Vienna wouldn’t host Eurovision 2026.
The Eurovision Music Contest has been within the information an important deal these days as a result of representatives of plenty of international locations have been asking to have Israel banned from the 2026 contest, which is about to happen in Vienna in Could.
If you happen to grew up in a rustic that doesn’t participate, you could surprise what all of the fuss is about and why Israelis care so passionately about competing in it.
The brief reply is that Israelis are inclined to have a gentle spot for Eurovision as a result of it was the primary main worldwide competitors of any variety that Israel excelled in, and by which it continues to excel.
Whereas there have lengthy been calls to exclude Israel and several other safety threats in opposition to the Israeli delegation, because the struggle in Gaza broke out in 2023, these calls have intensified. A number of international locations have threatened to drop out of the 2026 competitors if Israel takes half, together with Spain, Eire, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland.
Spain’s determination is very vital as a result of it’s one among Eurovision’s “huge 5” sponsors; the others are France, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom.
Yuval Raphael bravely took the stage in 2025, rising from the ashes of the Supernova music pageant October 7, 2023, bloodbath. (credit score: Shai Franco/Courtesy of Keshet)
Germany, Austria, Sweden
However different international locations have proven assist for Israel. Germany has mentioned it can withdraw if Israel shouldn’t be allowed to take part, and in an important improvement, the leaders of the Austrian Individuals’s Social gathering (ÖVP) andAustrian Chancellor Christian Stocker and State Secretary Alexander Pröll introduced final week that if there’s a boycott in opposition to Israel’s participation within the 2026 Eurovision Music Contest, Austria’s nationwide broadcaster ORF is not going to host Eurovision.
Sweden has additionally mentioned it doesn’t consider international locations ought to be kicked out of Eurovision, since it’s an apolitical contest, the everlasting slogan of which is “United By Music.”
The overall meeting of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the group that runs Eurovision, had known as for a vote on the problem in November, a gathering that was initially scheduled for December and was then moved up. However following the ceasefire announcement and the discharge of the 20 residing hostages from Hamas captivity, this vote was canceled.
There might be a gathering of the EBU in December and representatives of the general public broadcasters in collaborating international locations might be permitted to debate their emotions and issues about Israel’s participation there; nonetheless, at current there are not any plans to carry a vote on this assembly, so the potential for Israel being kicked out of the competition appears to be gone – for now.
Israeli followers
Israeli Eurovision followers will keep vigilant over the likelihood that the EBU might bow to stress from a few of its extra anti-Israel members and reschedule the vote.
Clearly, graver issues are unfolding than a pop music contest, however Eurovision has particular that means for a lot of Israelis. A whole bunch of thousands and thousands all over the world tune in to the competition yearly, and the winner of the rigorously stage-managed occasion is decided by a mix of votes by nationwide juries, that are comprised of music and tv trade professionals within the collaborating international locations, and viewers voting.
A part of the ethos of peaceable competitors is that no nation can vote for itself.
Israel has excelled within the competitors because it started collaborating in 1973, when Ilanit represented Israel, ending fourth.
This was earlier than Israeli tv sequence likeFauda, Tehran, and Dangerous Boy had been proven all over the world, and earlier than Gal Gadot grew to become a Hollywood famous person whereas embracing her Israeli id.
Although Ofra Haza didn’t win in 1983 (coming in second), her paean to Jewish survival, ‘Chai,’ was some extent of nationwide pleasure. (credit score: SHUTTERSTOCK)
Successful at Eurovision
It might be practically 20 years earlier than Israel would win its first Olympic medal, when Yael Arad took second place in judo in 1992. However Israel has been profitable at Eurovision for nearly 50 years.
Ilanit’s top-five end on Israel’s first Eurovision outing was no fluke. Israel took house the highest prize in 1978 and 1979 with wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta for the music “A-Ba-Ni-Bi,” which was translated into many languages and have become a global hit, and Milk and Honey for “Hallelujah,” respectively.
In 1998, Israel received once more withDana International’s “Diva,” and she or he made historical past by being the primary overtly trans contestant – beginning a pattern of trans performers at Eurovision. Dana Worldwide’s triumph additionally gave the world a window into Israel’s LGBTQ scene, a neighborhood that’s particularly dedicated to Eurovision.
Whereas for many years the highest prize eluded Israel, Israelis continued to be devoted Eurovision followers. Lastly, in 2018, Netta Barzilai grew to become Israel’s fourth Eurovision winner together with her rousing rendition of “Toy,” a self-empowerment anthem. The 2019 Eurovision competitors was held in Tel Aviv.
Ofra Haza
Even when Israel didn’t win, its participation was a matter of nationwide pleasure. Ofra Haza, one of many biggest Israeli pop stars of all time, completed second in 1983, singing, “Chai,” a paean to Jewish survival. Her efficiency was all of the extra significant as a result of it was sung in Hebrew and included the road, “Am Yisrael chai,” and likewise as a result of that yr, Eurovision was held in Munich, 11 years after Israeli Olympic athletes and coaches had been murdered there in a terror assault.
The truth that Israelis like to sing can be an element, and so many gatherings and occasions, similar to vacation events in colleges, characteristic sing-alongs.
The nation just about shuts down when Eurovision rolls round, as even those that don’t typically observe pop music tune in. Watch events are thrown all around the nation, each in personal houses and eating places. Eurovision is a big a part of Israeli life and id.
Within the wake of WWII
Eurovision was began within the wake of World Conflict II to encourage peaceable competitors amongst nations and has blossomed right into a glittery extravaganza, which is huge enterprise. Dozens of blogs and web sites – even perhaps a whole lot – chronicle each step of the method. All of the betting web sites tote up the percentages.
Many have requested, particularly lately, why Israel is in Eurovision in any respect, since it’s not in Europe. The reply is that Israel was adopted into the European Broadcasting Union, the physique that sponsors Eurovision, and that when Israel’s public broadcaster joined, the nation was welcomed into Eurovision.
A number of different international locations exterior of Europe additionally compete in Eurovision: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Morocco (which competed as soon as).
A launching pad
Whereas as soon as it was a extra earnest affair, the place opponents sang of their native languages and infrequently wore costumes that had parts of conventional gown of their international locations, now it’s extra homogenized, with nearly all of songs carried out in English. The colourful native costumes had been changed a long time in the past with flashy, skin-baring outfits that may not be misplaced inLas Vegas.
Eurovision has at all times been a launching pad for proficient performers from all over the world, which is a part of its mystique. Among the many singers and teams who grew to become stars or obtained a giant profession enhance following European appearances are ABBA (who received with “Waterloo” in 1974), Celine Dion, Olivia Newton-John, Julio Iglesias, and France Gall.
Along with “Waterloo,” different hit tunes have come out of Eurovision, together with “Ding-a-dong,” by Train-In, and “Save Your Kisses for Me,” by Brotherhood of Man.
Noa Kirel from Israel holds her nation’s flag through the grand last of the 2023 Eurovision Music Contest in Liverpool, Britain, Could 13, 2023. (credit score: REUTERS/PHIL NOBLE)
Noa Kirel
A lot of Israel’s prime stars have represented the nation. Most not too long ago, pop diva Noa Kirel was chosen by the federal government to characterize Israel in 2023 with out collaborating in a expertise contest and completed third general with the music “Unicorn,” which grew to become successful. Different stars who’ve represented Israel through the years embrace Poogy (an incarnation of Kaveret), Yardena Arazi, Sarit Hadad, Shiri Maimon, and Rita.
For each heartfelt ballad, there are novelty and joke tunes, just like the 2025 Estonian entry, “Espresso Macchiato,” a music making enjoyable of Italian stereotypes, which got here in third.
One other instance of a foolish music that was widespread in Eurovision was this yr’s Swedish entry, “Bara, Bada, Bastu,” which extols the virtues of Finnish-style saunas, and which got here in fourth.
The silliness is a part of the enjoyable, and Israelis take pleasure in that, too, and have despatched these sorts of songs into the competition, similar to Teapacks’ 2007 music, “Push the Button,” or “Music of the Lazy Bums” by Avi Kushnir and Natan Datner in 1987.
Calls to exclude Israel
When there have been calls to kick Israel out in 2024 and 2025 as a result of struggle, the EBU issued statements repeatedly saying that Eurovision shouldn’t be a contest between governments however between public broadcasters, and thatKAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, has not violated its guidelines.
Russia was suspended from the competitors following its invasion of Ukraine as a result of its public broadcaster broke EBU guidelines by broadcasting authorities propaganda.
KAN receives authorities funds, however its content material is unbiased, and it has, the truth is, angered the federal government a lot that Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi has threatened to close it down and has tried to cross laws to dismantle it.
KAN stays a member in good standing of the EBU. In 2024, the EBU posted this assertion on its web site: “The Israel public service broadcaster has been a member of the EBU for over 60 years. The Russian public service broadcasters had their EBU membership suspended in 2022 on account of constant breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values.”
In 2024, the primary Eurovision competitors following the Hamas bloodbath and the outbreak of the struggle was held in Malmö, Sweden – a metropolis recognized for its excessive quantity of antisemitic incidents. There are at all times threats to Israeli delegations all around the world, however the threats in opposition to Eden Golan, Israel’s 2024 consultant, had been thought of so critical that she disguised herself with sun shades and wigs when she traveled across the metropolis.
Fins and Icelandics
1000’s of Finnish and Icelandic performers signed a petition in 2024 asking for Israel to be banned, on account of what they termed “struggle crimes” by the federal government.
So it wasn’t stunning that when Golan took to the stage to sing “Hurricane” by Keren Peles, a music about shedding love amid trauma – an earlier model of the music, known as “October Rain,” had been deemed too political for Eurovision, and it had been rewritten and resubmitted – at rehearsals and within the semifinals and finals, a loud refrain of individuals booing tried to drown her out.
To her credit score, Golan, who was simply 20 on the time, saved her composure after which some, as if every taunt helped her focus and gave her power.
Nevertheless it wasn’t just some within the viewers who harassed her. Protesters, together with Greta Thunberg, staged demonstrations in opposition to Golan and the Israeli delegation. Many fellow performers went out of their technique to disrespect her, together with Eire’s Bambie Thug, who mentioned they cried once they realized Israel had made it to the finals.
Greek singer Marina Satti pretended to go to sleep as Golan spoke at a press convention, and the Netherlands’ Joost Klein put a Dutch flag over his face.
‘Protected for everybody’
Maybe the worst second got here when a Polish journalist requested Golan, “Have you ever ever thought that by being right here, you convey threat and hazard for different contributors?” as if he had been blaming her for the truth that folks had been threatening her life.
Informed she didn’t must reply the query,Golan responded, nonetheless, “I feel we’re all right here for one motive, and one motive solely. And the EBU is taking all security precautions to make this a protected and united place for everybody, so I feel it’s protected for everybody.”
In the long run, she positioned second within the viewers voting, however obtained a lot decrease scores from the nationwide juries, ending fifth general.
Despite the tumult surrounding her participation, Raphael remained upbeat, saying upon her return house, “It’s a enormous privilege that I’m right here and that I had the chance to characterize our nation, particularly in moments like this, and that I represented the nation and was the voice for everybody who must be despatched house now.”
YUVAL RAPHAEL PERFORMS ‘New Day Will Rise’, through the last of the 2025 Eurovision Music Contest in Basel, Switzerland, in Could 2025. (credit score: DENIS BALIBOUSE/REUTERS)
Eurovision in Basel
In 2025, on the Eurovision contest held in Basel, Israel picked a equally courageous younger performer, Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Nova bloodbath, to characterize Israel.
Having confronted terrorists for hours whereas hiding in a bomb shelter, she mentioned in interviews that she wouldn’t be spooked by some Europeans making noise, and she or he even rehearsed to the sound of boos to organize her.
“There might be booing… [T]right here’s nothing I can do about it,” she informed Ynet. “I’m nonetheless coming with the identical agenda. And you already know what? Greater than that, I feel that is the type of scenario that may open my coronary heart much more,” she mentioned earlier than her look.
Simply as in 2024, there have been threats in opposition to her and the Israeli delegation. As she walked the turquoise carpet previous to the opening of the competitors, a person made a gesture as if he meant toslit her throat. It was a deliberate and chilling risk.
‘New Day Will Rise’
However in the long run, she carried out with out incident, singing “New Day Will Rise,” a transferring music of renewal after tragedy, additionally written by Peles, which featured the lyrics, “New day will rise/Life will go on/Everybody cries/Don’t cry alone/Darkness will fade/All of the ache will fade/However we’ll keep/Even when you say goodbye.” It additionally included a line in Hebrew from Music of Songs, “Many waters can’t quench love, nor can rivers sweep it away.”
Audiences all over the world liked the music and Raphael’s efficiency, by which she climbed a glittering staircase as she sang.
Raphael, 24, had by no means sung professionally earlier than getting into Subsequent Star for Eurovision on Keshet 12, the expertise competitors that chooses Israel’s Eurovision contestant, however she gave a flawless, heartfelt efficiency and got here in first within the viewers voting. To nobody’s shock, the nationwide juries scored her a lot decrease, and she or he ended up in second place general.
Her victory within the viewers vote was broadly celebrated at house.
Austrian contestant irked
Nonetheless, her win irked many overseas, together with Eurovision performers. Austria’s JJ, who received the 2025 Eurovision Music Contest with the music “Wasted Love,” was upset that Israel took half and got here in first within the viewers voting.
“I hope the competitors subsequent yr will happen in Vienna – with out Israel,” he mentioned in an interview with the Spanish information outlet El País. “However the ball is within the European Broadcasting Union’s court docket. We artists can solely increase our voices on the matter. It’s very disappointing that Israel continues to be collaborating within the contest.”
He additionally known as the viewers voting system problematic. “There must be a change within the voting system. There ought to be extra transparency within the televoting. This yr, all the things was very unusual on that entrance,” he mentioned.
Spain, Finland, Netherlands, Eire
Finland’s contestant, Erika Vikman, made an announcement that referenced basic antisemitic tropes, which was quoted in Wiwibloggs, an internet site dedicated to Eurovision information, that, “I learn in Helsingin Sanomat as we speak that Israel has been capable of manipulate votes to an important extent. I really feel that it is rather unfair.”
The general public broadcasters inSpain, Finland, the Netherlands, and Eire requested the EBU to look at the viewers voting outcomes for fraud following Raphael’s audience-vote win. They had been particularly vital of the truth that viewers members can vote as much as 20 occasions, though this has been allowed within the televoting because the late ’90s. Pedro Sanchez, the Spanish prime minister, weighed in to name for Israel to be banned.
A number of European broadcasters and journalists have cited the truth that the Israeli authorities – and never KAN – sponsored advertisements on YouTube and different locations, urging the general public to vote for Raphael.
Defending integrity
However Martin Inexperienced, the director of Eurovision, made a strongly worded assertion final Could defending the integrity of the voting system, which he known as “essentially the most superior on the earth.” Wiwibloggs reported that Highlight, the EBU’s unbiased fact-checking community, discovered that there was nothing in opposition to Eurovision guidelines within the Israeli promotional marketing campaign.
Wiwibloggs’ Jordi Pedra wrote, “Highlight’s investigation notes that different international locations additionally ran promoting campaigns, together with Malta, Greece, Albania, Poland, Armenia, and France. A few of these had been run by the artists themselves through their very own social platforms, and a few had been promoted through the competing broadcaster within the territory.”
Nevertheless it was solely Israel that performers and broadcasters mentioned ought to be investigated.
Audiences embrace Israel
There would most likely be a push to ban Israel regardless of how its contestants fared not too long ago, however the truth that the earlier three Israeli performers have completed third, fifth, and second, and that Raphael got here in first with audiences, might have made Israel-hating Europeans really feel particularly threatened.
The truth thatEuropean audiences have embraced Israeli contributors and given them their votes contradicts the narrative that Israel is a hated, pariah state.
The anti-Israel European broadcasters and performers can do their worst to get Israel banned, however they may come up in opposition to the truth that Israelis are good at holding their floor for a trigger they consider is price preventing for.
