Eurovision’s Israel decision leads to major countries pulling out

Australian Community Media

Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain will not participate in the 2026 contest out of protest after the European Broadcasting Union gave Israel the all-clear to participate.

Transcript

00:00Four countries, including one of the Big Five nations, have dropped out of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest

00:07in protest against the organisers opting not to vote on Israel's future participation.

00:13Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain will not participate in the next contest, which is to be held in Austria.

00:21Over the years, these nations have had a collective 14 wins.

00:26Opposition to the war in Gaza had led to condemnation of Israel's continued involvement in the annual contest.

00:33Other countries, including Belgium, Finland and Sweden, have in the past threatened to withdraw as a boycott.

00:41Some nations accused Israel of unfair voting practices when the nation placed second to Austria in the 2025 competition in Switzerland.

00:49Let's find out who wins the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

00:55Austria, 178 points!

01:06Israel's 2025 performer Yuval Raphael, who is a survivor of the October 7th, 2023 attack,

01:14performed her song, New Day Will Rise, to the sound of audience booing and protesting.

01:20Additionally, they will知道 the

01:28A crew member was also hit with paint after two anti-Israel protesters rushed the stage

01:53to disrupt the 24-year-old's performance.

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