Eurovision faces major test as countries weigh Israel's participation

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

56% : Austrian host broadcaster ORF wants Israel to compete.
47% : Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN told Reuters it believed discussions about excluding Israel were unjustified, asserting that KAN was in full compliance with EBU rules.
45% : EBU members to discuss Israel's participation, with a vote possible * Slovenia, Ireland, Spain, Netherlands threaten boycott over Israel's participation * Potential audience loss if major European backers boycott Eurovision By Olivia Le Poidevin GENEVA, - The Eurovision Song Contest faces a "watershed moment" on Thursday when members of the body that organises the contest may vote on whether Israel can compete in 2026, as some nations threaten to withdraw if it is not excluded due to the Gaza war.
43% : European Broadcasting Union members will convene to discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from disproportionately promoting songs to influence voters after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win.
43% : If members are not convinced the rules are adequate, there will be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically.
43% : If a vote against Israel were successful, Germany would probably withdraw and not broadcast the contest, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters.
37% : Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have all threatened to boycott the event, scheduled for May in Austria, if Israel is allowed to take part, citing concern over the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities.
32% : Israel has not responded to these accusations but frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign.
17% : This year, critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting the second-place finish of its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 attack on Israel by Hamas militants that triggered the conflict.

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