Germany's Broadcaster Responds To Reports They'll Leave Eurovision If Israel Is Banned
Germany’s national broadcaster has responded to claims that organisers in the country have said they will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is not allowed to take part next year.
Israel’s participation in Eurovision has long been a controversial issue due to the political situation in the Middle East, but in the last two years, the conversation has grown even louder, with many fans boycotting the contest due to the country’s continued presence, and several participating broadcasters raising their own concerns about the situation.
Last week, it was confirmed that discussions had taken place among Eurovision’s participating broadcasters about whether Israel should remain part of the contest despite the ongoing war in Gaza.
Ultimately, it was decided that the situation would be reassessed in the autumn. It was subsequently reported by Israel’s N12 News earlier this week (as cited by The National) that the national broadcasters for Germany and Italy had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel is not permitted to return to the event in 2026.
Responding to these reports on Tuesday morning, a representative from Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) told HuffPost UK: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades—diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief.
“The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.
“We welcome the process initiated by EBU Director General Noel Curran. A former senior TV executive will engage in a structured, open dialogue with the members over the coming months to explore various perspectives and identify courses of action. The goal should be a well-founded and sustainable solution in line with the EBU’s values.”
HuffPost UK has also contacted Italy’s RAI and Eurovision organisers for comment.
It’s perhaps noting that Germany and Italy both form part of the so-called “Big Five” countries who contribute the most financially to Eurovision’s organisation (alongside the UK, France and Spain).
Because of their financial contributions, the “Big Five” countries are fast-tracked to the Eurovision final each year without having to compete in the first semi-final stage of the contest.
Among those calling for Israel’s expulsion from Eurovision are a host of former contestants and acts associated with the competition, as well as reigning champion JJ from Austria and 2024 winner Nemo from Switzerland, who shared their take earlier this year during an exclusive interview with HuffPost UK.
The EBU previously said: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East. The EBU is not immune to global events but, together with our members, it is our role to ensure the Contest remains – at its heart – a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.
“We all aspire to keep the Eurovision Song Contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.”
They added: “As a reminder, the EBU is an association of public service broadcasters, not governments, who are all eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the requisite requirements. It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.”