4 countries to boycott Eurovision due to Israel’s continued inclusion

[Everexpanding]

In a statement released on Thursday afternoon, the Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said it would also withdraw from next year’s contest. “After weighing all perspectives, Avrotros concludes that, under the current circumstances, participation cannot be reconciled with the public values that are fundamental to our organisation.”

The Slovenian national broadcaster, RTVSLO – the first to threaten a boycott this summer – said participation “would conflict with its values of peace, equality and respect”.

Spain’s culture minister, Ernest Urtasun, backed the decision, adding: “You can’t whitewash Israel given the genocide in Gaza. Culture should be on the side of peace and justice. I’m proud of an RTVE that puts human rights before any economic interest

RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk,” the broadcaster said in a statement.

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/dec/04/ireland-spain-and-the-netherlands-to-boycott-eurovision-2026-as-israel-cleared-to-compete

Once again, criticism of Israels actions in the West Bank and Gaza are not antisemitic.
Some of that stuff isn't the actions of a democratic Govt, sure bad things happen in war but the Israeli state does nothing about it "we will review their actions...." then all forgotten.

Now we have Netanyahu trying to get himself pardoned on corruption charges.

The rightwing and others have now used Gaza to attack Jews but that does not somehow mean we cannot say what Israel is doing is now very wrong.

But that doesn't mean Israel should be in EV, Govts do bad things = they tend to have restrictions placed on them.

To the previous poster, on Spanish racism, go to a Premiership football match and here the racist chants? or a Lionesses match? or go on line and read the disgusting things said about female black players?

There has undoubtedly been an increase in unjustifiable antisemitism.

But there remains significant concerns about Israel’s participation in Eurovision and that can’t be dismissed as antisemitism. I think it’s taken countries in the EU too long to respond to the concerns about war crimes in the region. Too many Palestinians have been killed in the interim, too much of their infrastructure destroyed.

That we are down to the repercussions for war crimes being participation in a song contest, even one as politically charged as Eurovision, is laughable/ lamentable in a way.

We will have to agree to disagree because it’s personal opinion.

My opinion is that the 4 most antisemitic countries in Europe have just revealed themselves. I don’t think I’m alone in viewing it that way.

But others see it differently so 🤷🏼‍♀️

As I said above - concessions were made to the voting rules to reduce further divisions and fallout. It was not just about 4 countries not participating. I understand other countries are still considering their participation.

You can't just say 'criticism of Israels actions in the West Bank and Gaza are not antisemitic.'.

Its patently untrue. A terrorist in Manchester went to a synagogue to murder Jews in the name of Palestinians. He was 'criticusing' Israel's actions and he was taking it out on Jews.

That was antisemitic.

Look.at any pro-Pal march, facebook group, twitter, insta, mumsnet board etc etc you will find antisemitic content. That doesn't mean everyone involved necessarily is. It does mean that some of those involved definitely are.

Obviously some of the criticism of Israel in Eurovision is antisemitic.

There’s a big difference between boycotting/ legitimate criticisms and terrorist attacks!

I understand the fear that criticism of Israel strengthens the arm of antisemites. There are Jews far from Israel who are suffering for what is happening there, and that is unacceptable.

But what then is the solution? We stay silent?

I find it really really hard to believe that that is a considered answer after 2 years of this conflict. Sorry but if you can't take the time to think about this there is really nothing I can do.

Did you read all of my post?

Where is said the right and others have used Gaza to attack Jews.

We are talking the boycotting of EV if Israel allowed to compete, NOT blatant terrorism and antisemitic acts.

Why is some criticism of Israel in EV antisemitic? do you evidence for this? or is a belief.
Israel has been in EV for many years, until recently, few demanded their exclusion - i don't recall boycotts.

Bangs head against wall and goes off to do something more productive instead.

No, I don’t think there is anything you can do. Time and time again, people have explained here that it is not antisemitic to call out the actions of the Israeli government and you won’t accept it.

Any antisemitic attacks against Jewish people before or after 7th October were and are completely wrong.

A government committing genocide against a nation of people is wrong and deserves to be called out (to say the least) on an international stage. For the last time, it is not antisemitic to do so.

Anyway, I’m out, there’s no talking to you.

Again with the deflection!

This thread is about people protesting by not taking part in the Eurovision.

On Friday, Belgium & Sweden confirmed their participation in Eurovision 2026.

Just waiting to hear from Iceland to know whether the number of countries joining the boycott will be 4 as it currently stands, or 5.

Thanks @Twiglets1
I wonder if the changes to the voting have helped contain the number of countries boycotting? It does hamper the public vote being used as a show of support politically.

I imagine EU broadcasters are also attempting to bolster the position of KAN, Israel’s public broadcaster, which the right wing Israeli government has been looking at reforming. One thing that has strengthened KAN’s position is involvement in Eurovision!

Other countries not boycotting does not necessarily mean full bodied approval of what has happened and continues to happen in the ME.

Yes I think so.

I agree with the changes to the voting as it seems it will make the voting fairer.

No its not deflecting. Its an absolutely appropriate response to people naively (at best) pretending all criticism of Israel is just empathising wirh innocent Palestinians. That is the context in which the whole debate about Israel's participation in EV is happening.

I agree and was just reading about that myself.

KAN is a public broadcaster & thus critical of the government sometimes (like our BBC) & as you say, it protects KAN to some degree if they are part of Eurovision.

A nuanced point perhaps missed by the countries trying to exclude KAN from the competition.

And yes, participation in Eurovision does not signify approval of the Israeli government’s actions in the war.

You seem totally incapable of accepting any criticism of Israel and its actions in the WB and Gaza.

The context is 60k or 70k deaths, lack of Aid, war crimes, some documented, even filmed but anyone who dares say this is wrong is siding with the antisemites.

You have absolutely no evidence or knowledge of what I am capable of.

Thanks

What else would criticism of Israel be motivated by?

Anti-Semitism?

Do you believe that people criticising the Israel government on these boards are anti-Semitic? Do you accept that at least some of them are motivated by genuine concern for Palestinian lives?

Do you have any criticism of Israel at all? And if so, what is that motivated by?

I am not trying to catch you out. I’m trying to understand your reasoning so we get to a stage where we can have a genuine conversation without accusations of anti-semitism / lack of empathy flying about.

My criticisms of the Israeli government are motivated by many things. I am left wing. Its a right wing government. I am against corruption
Netanyahu is obviously corrupt. Im not a fan of minority coalition governments, Israeli politics is often distorted by the dynamic of coalition bargaining. Just a few things.
But I am not Israeli. I don't vote in Israel. Noone ever questions me about my view of internal German or Zambian or Chliean politics
So the question remains, why are so many people so motivated by opposing Israel. 100s of threads on Israel and Palestine. The obsession is wildly disproportionate. Why do we go over this over and over again? I and so many others have explained again and again. I mean obviously some of the motivation is antisemitic. Rather than keeping on questioning me why not do some research?

No concern for Israel’s treatment of Palestinians? Forced displacement, torture, extrajudicial killings?

If people were here 24/7 defending the taliban or waving away the deaths of innocent Sudanese people then you can be damn sure there would be 1000s of posts around the issue. That's what happens when people post controversial things. It is controversial to defend attacks on every single hospital in a territory. It is controversial to call the killing of 10s of children 'peace'. It's controversial to defend the killing of aid workers and journalists.

Defend what some people see as indefencible and you will get pushback. It's not rocket science and it's not antisemitism. Start a thread defending Ukrainian children being killed, describe them as 'collateral damage' and talk about how that's just what happens in wars and people are dumb and racist for being upset by it and see how you get on.