Eurovision 2026 | Israel allowed to compete | Netherlands, Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Iceland withdraw

Denis79 said:
Find it strange Norway haven't withdrawn also.
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NRK (the broadcaster) is going all in on the competition not being political, so they can't possibly support a political boycott. NRK is an independent, non-political broadcaster, and can't take a political stance.

They called for a boycott of Russia in 2022, and while they're now saying that's because the Russian broadcaster is breaking the EBU rules, all their statements arguing for the boycott was because of the invasion of Ukraine. So, either NRK has become an independent organization that can't take a political stance in the last couple of years, or they're lying.
 
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NotThatSoph said:
NRK (the broadcaster) is going all in on the competition not being political, so they can't possibly support a political boycott. NRK is an independent, non-political broadcaster, and can't take a political stance.

They called for a boycott of Russia in 2022, and while they're now saying that's because the Russian broadcaster is breaking the EBU rules, all their statements arguing for the boycott was because of the invasion on Ukraine. So, either NRK has become an independent organization that can't take a political stance in the last couple of years, or they're lying.
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Same hypocrisy in most countries.
 
Proud of my country Iceland...
Guess it doesn't change much... but we are not pus... like most of Europe...
 
If Russia is not allowed to participate, while Israel can, then it clearly says that relatively democratic states can do whatever they want abroad as long as they behave "properly" internally.

I don't think we should reward the man who only beats the neighborhood kids because he never touches his own children.

Yes, number 33 on the democracy index is way better than 150, but it's somehow not relevant to me in this context.
 
chomsky89 said:
If Russia is not allowed to participate, while Israel can, then it clearly says that relatively democratic states can do whatever they want abroad as long as they behave "properly" internally.

I don't think we should reward the man who only beats the neighborhood kids because he never touches his own children.

Yes, number 33 on the democracy index is way better than 150, but it's somehow not relevant to me in this context.
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I often see the “democracy” argument being used in this context. I’m not saying you’re doing it personally, you are clearly not, but it’s a common defense of Israel.
Whether a government is democratic or authoritarian is irrelevant when it comes to war crimes. International law doesn’t grade atrocities on a political system curve. Civilian deaths, collective punishment, and violations of humanitarian law don’t become acceptable because elections are held every few years.
If anything, being a democracy should imply higher accountability, not immunity from criticism and exclusion. Otherwise the argument becomes meaningless.
 
NotThatSoph said:
NRK (the broadcaster) is going all in on the competition not being political, so they can't possibly support a political boycott. NRK is an independent, non-political broadcaster, and can't take a political stance.

They called for a boycott of Russia in 2022, and while they're now saying that's because the Russian broadcaster is breaking the EBU rules, all their statements arguing for the boycott was because of the invasion of Ukraine. So, either NRK has become an independent organization that can't take a political stance in the last couple of years, or they're lying.
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The problem is this being considered political in the first place. Like you can be pro- or anti-genocide like it’s a progressive tax rate or something.
 
Denis79 said:
If anything, being a democracy should imply higher accountability, not immunity from criticism and exclusion. Otherwise the argument becomes meaningless.
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No doubt. Average russians can at least claim they have no say in whatever putin decides to do. Israelis voted these people in.
 
Cheimoon said:
I wonder if there is still any chance the EBU will reconsider the decision. It's come out this week that Israel ran an extensive government-organized lobbying campaign to make sure they would get enough votes to participate in Eurovision again. I read about it in my Dutch newspaper, but I found this English Israeli source now:

https://www.ynetnews.com/culture/article/rjx22d1mwg

That's clear government interference and goes exactly against everything the EBU has been saying about Israel's involvement ('we're non-political', and so on). They of course also have their very own evidence that the Israeli government extensively campaigned internationally for their contestant last year.

Plenty of grounds for dismissal due to political interference - no?

No, of course. Not for the EBU.
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What Israel don't get is how much hatred for themselves and their people all around the world they are making by doing things like this.

What I hate the most, and I think vast majority of people too, is being made fool of, when I can clearly see I am being made fool of.

When public in most countries is against you, and you are still faking that image of being a normal country by doing whatever it is you are doing to keep those in power on your leash, while people that have no say in these matters are absolutely in dissonance with what those in power do, it is bound to create an extra dose of very bad feelings for you, that is just logical.

I am absolutely against Russia, it is natural to me to be against not just an agressor but also someone who is meddling into other countries politics time and time again.

But thinking Russia is bigger danger for most countries apart from those in close vicinity to them than Israel is crazy.

Because Israel is clearly capable of running country's policies and is willing to even go down to small, ultimately meaningless things in broader picture, like participation in cultural and sports events. Something even Russia is incapable of.
 
I will never forgive Dami Im - Sound Of Silence not winning, so I hope the competition folds.
 
I don't mind Israel here, they are what they are. what I'm bothered with is other nations having zero issues with them participating after everything they have done, and even defending them.

there will always be bullies, molesters and murderers in world. as society, we should at least pretend that it's completely unacceptable and that you won't get rewarded for such behavior.

but for some it's not that simple. it's simple only when they have to disqualify Russia and Belarus.
 
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Bole Top said:
I don't mind Israel here, they are what they are. what I'm bothered with is other nations having zero issues with them participating after everything they have done, and even defending them.

there will always be bullies, molesters and murderers in world. as society, we should at least pretend that it's completely unacceptable and that you won't get rewarded for such behavior.

but for some it's not that simple. it's simple only when they have to disqualify Russia and Belarus.
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But society is against it, only those in power aren't. Setting themselves up for mini revolutions perhaps?
 
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894024

The Daily Mail quoted Boy George as he spoke before the annual London Eurovision Party earlier this month as saying, “I have many, many Jewish friends that I’ve had since I was 15 or 16 years old… Are people asking me as a principled human being to turn my back on my Jewish friends? It’s not going to happen, it’s never going to happen."

"From the beginning of my career, I wore a Jewish star," continued Boy George. "Go back and look at pictures of Culture Club. I am so affiliated with Jewish people. I am not necessarily affiliated with Israel. I don’t really have an opinion on that. But the job of music is to unite people.”
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He's obviously stupid as feck but this notion that Jew = Israeli needs to stop. It's antisemitism, but it won't be called out.
 
Nobody will convince me out state tv didn't fudge the numbers in the national contest. 13 of 16 finalists said they would boycott eurovision, including all the favourites. Out of the blue, the winner was one of the 3 who said they would participate.
 
I've watched both semi finals and can see why Finland are favourites, but I think Australia will do pretty well too.
 
Australia, Serbia, Romania.

Although I think that first semi final saw a few entries robbed.

I'm somewhat new to this, is all the voting basically rigged?
 
Is it supposed to have the sign language ladies the whole time or did I select the wrong stream?
 
Finland the best song. Denmark decent also and will grab a big gay vote. Not a proper Eurovision without Ireland let's be honest.

RTE are showing Father Ted song for Europe instead of the Eurovision while BBC have Father Noel Furlong on the commentary.
 
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