Israel Will Compete at Eurovision Amid Boycott Threats, Organiser Says

Netta from Israel celebrates after winning the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest grand final in Lisbon, Portugal. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reaffirmed Israel’s participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, despite threats by other competitors to boycott the event if the country attended.

In a statement issued Tuesday, the EBU said Eurovision was a unifying musical event, transcending political boundaries.

“It is a competition for broadcasters — not governments — and the Israeli public broadcaster has participated in the contest for 50 years,” the EBU stated. “The Eurovision Song Contest remains a non-political event that unites audiences worldwide through music.”

The move comes after artists from Iceland demanded a boycott of the contest, which is due to take place in Sweden next year, if Israel was to participate.

“We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children,” Icelandic Association of Composers and Lyricists of Iceland (FTT) said.

Likewise, Irish broadcaster RTE issued a petition with 500 signatories. In both instances, the protesting parties cited the country’s military actions in Gaza.

In 2022, due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the EBU excluded Russia from participating. Russia was originally set to perform in the second half of the first semi-final.

Israel has been a part of the musical competition for 50 years, most notably winning in 2018.