EBU delays Israel Eurovision decision amid boycott calls
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has delayed a decision on Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, scheduled for Austria, until December.
The move follows developments in the Middle East and boycott calls from several European nations, the AFP reports.
In a statement, the EBU Council said the matter would be discussed at the Ordinary Winter General Assembly, rather than an extraordinary session. The delay aims to allow for "an open and direct discussion between the union's members" on the issue of Israel's participation.
Controversies over the country's participation arose even before a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas was announced. Several European states – including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands – have warned they might boycott the contest if Israel is accepted. Other countries, such as Belgium, Sweden, and Finland, are considering a similar decision.
The Dutch public broadcaster Avrotros cited serious violations of press freedom in Gaza and alleged political interference by Israel in the contest's previous edition. In contrast, Austria, the host country, and Germany argued against exclusion, saying such a decision would contradict the spirit of unity promoted by Eurovision.
The music competition has historically also been a stage for geopolitical conflicts. Russia was excluded from the contest in 2022 following the invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus a year earlier after the disputed re-election of President Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Moldova also pulled out of the current year’s contest, which was set to be the country's 20th Eurovision participation. The decision, announced on 22 January by the then-director of Moldova 1, Corneliu Durnescu, came after the live audition stage, in which 12 artists and bands had qualified for the national final.
Organisers specified at the time that the decision was taken "following a detailed analysis of the current situation, as well as economic, administrative, and artistic challenges." The EBU participation fee for Moldova was €21,486. This was supplemented by considerable costs, including staging the national final, show production, artist promotion, technical equipment, and other associated expenses.
At the beginning of October this year, the "Teleradio-Moldova" Company (TRM) launched consultations with the artistic community in the country regarding possible participation in next year's Eurovision Song Contest. The final decision will be made at the end of the consultation process, which is intended to identify "a formula that corresponds to the current local context."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
