Israel has been allowed to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported. The decision was made today at a meeting in Geneva of the European Radio and Television Council.
Three countries - Spain, the Netherlands and Ireland - have already announced that they will boycott the contest in protest over Israel's actions during the war in the Gaza Strip, AFP notes. Slovenia will also not participate in the Eurovision 2026 contest because of the decision to allow Israel, Slovenian public television reported, quoted by Reuters.
The Netherlands announced tonight that it will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year for the first time in 24 years, the national news agency ANP, quoted by BTA.
A little earlier, the European Broadcasting Union decided at a meeting in Geneva that Israel should be allowed to participate in "Eurovision 2026".
The Dutch television company "Avrotros" did not change its intention that the country would not participate if Israel is allowed. The television company made this decision in close cooperation with the Dutch public television. According to the television operator, "participation in the current circumstances is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us".
"Avrotros" already announced in September that it would not participate in the "Eurovision" song contest if Israel is allowed. The television operator cited the human suffering in the Gaza Strip, the suppression of media freedom and the interference of the Israeli government in the previous edition as reasons.
In Late last month, Eurovision organiser the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) announced a package of measures to comply with the Netherlands on the latter issue. Several other countries have also announced they will boycott the contest if Israel takes part.
According to "Avrotros", the European Broadcasting Union decided at its general meeting today that Israel can take part in 2026. At the same time, the meeting revealed that concerns remain among several European broadcasters regarding the neutrality and apolitical nature of the Eurovision Song Contest, the broadcaster said.
"This was not an easy decision and we did not make it overnight," said Avrotros director Taco Zimmermann. "The Eurovision Song Contest is very valuable to us. Culture unites, but not at any cost. What happened this year crosses our borders. Universal values such as humanity and a free press have been seriously trampled upon and are not up for debate for us."
According to Zimmerman, due to Israel's political interference last year, "the independence and unifying nature of the Eurovision Song Contest can no longer be taken for granted." "We choose the core values of the Eurovision Song Contest and as a public broadcaster we have a responsibility to remain true to these values, even when it is difficult or delicate."
In the seventy-year history of Eurovision, the Netherlands has only failed to participate four times. The last time was in 2002 due to a disappointing result the previous year. The same happened in 1995, and in 1985 and 1991 The Netherlands did not participate because the final coincided with the Dutch Remembrance Day.