By Kitty Chrisp
Copyright metro
Ireland are the latest country to boycott the Eurovision Song Contest over Israel’s inclusion (Picture: Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
Irish broadcaster RTE has announced that it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song contest ‘if the participation of Israel goes ahead’.
An RTE statement released today said that at the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in July, ‘a number of EBU members raised concerns about the participation of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest’.
It added: ‘RTE wishes to thank the EBU for the extensive consultation process that was initiated on foot of that meeting, and the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without penalty to December.’
A final decision on participation will made when the EBU reaches its decision.
The broadcaster explained: ‘It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made’.
Austrian singer Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, won this year’s Eurovision with the song Wasted Love (Picture: FABRICE COFFRINI/AFP via Getty Images)
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It added: ‘RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.
‘RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.’
Ireland has won the Eurovision seven times, the joint most of any country. Last year Ireland’s contestant was EMMY, who was knocked out of the contest ahead of the televised final.
Last year Israel’s contestant Yuval Raphael and her song New Day Will Rise finished in second place, winning the public televote.
Yuval Raphael finished in second place representing Israel at this year’s Eurovision (Picture: Sebastian Reuter/Getty Images)
The contest is due to enjoy its 70th anniversary in Vienna next May after Austrian singer JJ won with Wasted Love in Switzerland this year, but tensions are growing over Israel’s involvement given its assault on Gaza as famine is officially declared in the region and a humanitarian crisis rages on.
Eurovision director Martin Green previously addressed the situation in a statement to HuffPost UK, which said: ‘We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
‘We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest.
‘Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.’
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Which countries are threatening to boycott Eurovision 2026 over Israel?
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has threatened the country will withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel are allowed to participate.
‘I don’t think we can normalise Israel’s participation in international events as if nothing is happening,’ Urtasun said, as per EuroNews.
‘Events like Eurovision [bring] a certain representation of a country. In Eurovision’s case, it is not an individual artist who participates but someone who participates on behalf of that country’s citizens.’
Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez also called for Israel’s ban.
‘Spain’s commitment to human rights must be constant and consistent, including in Europe,’ he said.
‘If Russia was required not to participate in Eurovision after the invasion of Ukraine, neither should Israel. We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture.’
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Slovenia‘s national broadcaster RTVSLO said in a statement: ‘At the EBU General Assembly, which was held in London at the beginning of July, RTV Slovenia presented its position that if Israel were to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest – due to the genocide in Gaza – it would not participate in the competition.
‘The EBU is currently holding talks with its members regarding Israel’s possible participation in the future competition,’ they concluded.
Icelandic broadcaster RÚV have also expressed reservations about whether the country will be part of the contest next year, depending on EBU’s decision on Israel, as reports Iceland’s publication Visir.
In May former Eurovision contestants called on the competition to ban Israel and its national broadcaster Kan from this year’s contest.
Among the 72 names to sign the open letter were the UK’s 2023 entry Mae Muller, Ireland’s 1994 champion Charlie McGettigan and 2017 Portuguese winner Salvador Sobral.
Speaking out after his win with 436 points against Israel’s 357, current victor JJ said he agrees with 2024 winner Nemo, of Switzerland, that elements of Eurovision need ‘fixing’, one of them being ‘who participates in the festival’.
During an interview with Spanish journal El PaÃs, he said: ‘It is very disappointing to see that Israel is still participating in the contest.
‘I would like next year’s Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel. But the ball is in the EBU’s court. We, the artists, can only raise our voices on the matter.’
More to follow.
