The Eurovision Song Contest faces a battle for its soul and future at a pivotal meeting in Geneva on Thursday, as organizers and participating nations debate whether Israel should be allowed to remain in the competition.
The “watershed” gathering follows intense protests over Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and accusations that its government artificially boosted its standing in this year’s contest through coordinated voting campaigns. The outcome threatens to fracture the event, with countries including Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia vowing to boycott if Israel participates, while Germany has signaled it could withdraw if Israel is excluded.
The controversy erupted during the 2025 grand final in Basel, Switzerland, when two protesters attempted to storm the stage and throw paint over Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael. Despite the disruption, Raphael finished in second place after winning the public vote—a result that sparked accusations of state-sponsored manipulation.
Critics allege Israel’s government ran a broad, paid advertising campaign across Europe urging viewers to vote for its entry. Israel has not publicly addressed the claims but has frequently stated it faces a global smear campaign.
In response to the turmoil, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) last month announced a tightening of voting rules to “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns,” particularly those “undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments.” The changes also reduce the number of public votes per person from 20 to 10 and enhance systems to detect “fraudulent or coordinated voting activity.”
“We very much hope the package of measures will assure members that we have taken strong action to protect the neutrality and impartiality of the Song Contest,” the EBU stated.
Yet the rule changes may not be enough to quell the political storm. Thursday’s meeting will force broadcasters to choose between preserving Eurovision’s tradition of non-political cultural exchange and responding to profound ethical divisions over the war in Gaza—a decision that could redefine the contest for years to come.
By James Kisoo
