Eurovision: Decision to admit Israel triggers growing boycott by participating countries
Spain’s public broadcaster, RTVE, has announced that it will boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, following confirmation by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) that Israel would be permitted to participate. Ireland’s RTÉ and Slovenia’s RTVSLO have now joined the boycott, following a similar announcement by the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS. Belgium’s RTBF is expected to communicate its position this week.
Countries including major financial contributor Spain, as well as the Netherlands, Slovenia and Ireland, had already warned that they would withdraw if Israel remained in the competition. Iceland had also announced a potential boycott, but said it would decide on participation later.
RTVE president José Pablo López said the EBU was now "influenced by political and commercial interests". He said that keeping Israel in the contest “further undermines” RTVE’s confidence in the EBU’s management of the event.
Targeted killings
RTÉ, which has also decided not to broadcast the contest, said its decision was taken "in light of the horrific loss of life in Gaza and the ongoing humanitarian crisis threatening so many civilians". It added that it was "deeply concerned by the targeted killings of journalists in Gaza and by the continued refusal of the Israeli authorities to grant international journalists access to the area".
Belgium is due to be represented next year by francophone public broadcaster RTBF. Its Flemish counterpart, VRT, which selects the act and broadcasts the event in alternate years, said its future involvement "depends on how the EBU addresses these concerns in the years ahead". VRT will still broadcast the contest. RTBF will set out its position in the coming days.
Israel’s participation has long been contentious. Following the last contest in Basel, where Israel came close to winning, calls for its exclusion intensified amid the heavy civilian death toll in Gaza. In November, to ease tensions, the EBU announced that the televoting rules would be tightened: viewers will now be able to cast a maximum of 10 votes instead of 20, and jury votes will count in the semi-finals, having been excluded for the past three editions.
Israel’s participation was ultimately confirmed in a secret ballot among EBU member broadcasters on Thursday.
© PHOTO APAPICTUREDESK
Related News
