Eurovision members debate call to boycott Israel

Contributing sentiments towards policy:

52% : During this week's meeting, broadcasters will therefore be asked to consider whether the new measures are sufficient or whether they still wish to see a vote on Israel's participation. - Boycott calls - ORF, the public broadcaster in Austria, which will host the 2026 contest, has expressed hope that a consensus can be reached so that it can host "as many participants as possible".
48% : Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest will be debated at a two-day meeting of member broadcasters in Geneva starting Thursday, following calls to exclude the country over its Gaza war tactics.
47% : Spain's public broadcaster reaffirmed its intention to boycott the competition if Israel is allowed to take part.
45% : The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the glitzy competition, had planned to convene member broadcasters in November for a vote on the issue.
44% : But a few days after the October 10 announcement of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, the EBU postponed a decision until its ordinary general assembly on December 4 and 5.
42% : But if at the EBU General Assembly "there is a vote on whether Israel should or should not participate at the Eurovision contest, and, if the result is that they do not participate, then we would propose... to participate", said RTV Slovenija chief Natasa Gorscak.
40% : "Israel has politically used the contest, has tried to influence the outcome, and has not been sanctioned for this conduct," said RTVE president Jose Pablo Lopez.
37% : Countries including Iceland, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands, have threatened in recent months to pull out of the 2026 contest if Israel takes part.
36% : If Israel is excluded, it would not be the first time a broadcaster is barred.
34% : It accused Israel of "proven interference... during the last edition of the Song Contest" -- in which it came second -- by lobbying the public overseas to vote for it.
33% : Iceland's RUV said last week it would call for Israel to be expelled before determining its own participation in the 2026 edition.
32% : In justifying its decision, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS highlighted a "serious violation of press freedom" by Israel in Gaza.

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