Israel will take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna after surviving a contentious vote Thursday at the European Broadcasting Union’s General Assembly in Geneva, Israeli officials said. The decision prompted the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Spain to announce they would withdraw from the competition.
The vote, held by secret ballot as part of a broader approval of new contest rules, followed months of debate over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza and public pressure from several European broadcasters. Delegates in the room described a tense atmosphere throughout the discussion.
According to officials present, Germany offered what they described as “unequivocal support” for Israel, while Spain, Belgium, Slovenia and Turkey expressed firm opposition during their speeches. Britain argued that the contest should not be politicized, and Ukraine defended Israel’s inclusion, saying comparisons to Russia’s expulsion from Eurovision were unfounded.
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