VRT backs call for debate on Israel’s Eurovision participation

Flemish public broadcaster VRT supports the request by Spanish, Irish, and Icelandic public broadcasters to discuss Israel’s involvement in the Eurovision Song Contest, as reported by VRT. The move comes amid growing calls for a debate on the issue.

In a letter sent to the contest’s organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), at the end of April, VRT raised what it described as “clear questions” concerning Israel’s involvement.

Earlier, VRT had indicated that it had “recently expressed concerns and raised questions” with the EBU but would continue to follow the EBU’s stance that Eurovision remains a “non-political event” for the time being. 

On 11 April, the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE called for a “debate regarding the participation of the Israeli broadcaster KAN in the competition.” The Irish and Icelandic public broadcasters had also expressed their support for this proposal.

Controversy

Controversy surrounds Israel’s entry, represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack on the Nova music festival, which killed 370 people. Her song, A New Day Will Rise, featuring English, French, and Hebrew lyrics and biblical references, has been seen by some as politically charged.

Earlier this week, more than 70 former Eurovision participants, including Belgian-Turkish singer Hadise and British artist Mae Muller, signed an open letter demanding Israel’s exclusion from the contest.

Flemish media minister Cieltje Van Achter (N-VA) in a reaction expressed understanding for the strong emotions surrounding Israel’s Eurovision participation and called the images from Gaza “heartbreaking.” However, she also stressed that the Israeli broadcaster KAN is independent of the government and cautioned against letting the conflict affect cultural and media spaces.

^{#FlandersNewsService | A woman and her dogs walk past the St. Jakobshalle arena, which will host the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest © Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP ​}