Eurovision aims to bring back countries that announced a boycott over Israel
Kyiv • UNN
Eurovision management plans to bring back the countries that announced a boycott due to Israel's participation. The contest will strengthen control over political interference.
The leadership of the Eurovision Song Contest wants to do everything possible to bring back the countries that withdrew this year due to Israel's participation, as stated by the event's director, Briton Martin Green, in an interview with Nieuwsuur, adding that this year the contest will strictly monitor political interference, UNN reports.
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As the publication writes, "this is perhaps the most difficult time in Eurovision history." However, as noted, Green is not pessimistic at all. According to him, the impact of complex geopolitical tensions on the song contest has always existed. "Every major world event has its ups and downs," he pointed out.
But more than ever, the song contest, which celebrates its 70th anniversary this year, is marked by protests, boycotts, and even political interference, the publication notes.
Austria won the contest last year and is therefore this year's host, but the Israeli contestant was the winner of the public vote. This result was carefully scrutinized after investigative journalists revealed that an Israeli government agency, reporting to the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, conducted a large-scale campaign to promote Israel's participation, the publication notes.
If evidence of disproportionate vote harvesting emerges again, the organization will take action, Green said. "While we have juries to balance the vote, we categorically will not tolerate such activity. I think we may not have been strict enough in recent years," Green said.
Following last year's results and due to the war in Gaza, several participating broadcasters called for Israel's exclusion. However, Israel is participating again this year. Broadcasters from four countries—Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands—immediately announced a boycott of the festival in response. Iceland also withdrew from participation. Iceland and the Netherlands will still broadcast the show.
Green wants to do everything possible to bring back the countries that dropped out. He is also in talks with the Netherlands regarding this matter.
"We miss these countries and we want them back. We will do everything in our power to make that happen," Green said.
Eurovision commentator Cornald Maas, a former head of the Spanish broadcaster, recently advocated for the complete exclusion of countries at war from the song contest. This is similar to what happened to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, when Ukraine also won the festival thanks to all the votes of support. However, this would mean that Ukraine would not be allowed to participate, the publication writes.
Eurovision Director Green strongly rejects this idea: "Any proposal that would lead to the exclusion or punishment of Ukraine is off the table for us," Green stated.
He also noted that regarding Russia, there is an almost global consensus on the measures that need to be taken. A consensus that is lacking when it comes to excluding Israel. "And we remain a democratic organization of affiliated member broadcasters," he pointed out.