Ireland’s RTÉ has become the fourth broadcaster to publicly request Eurovision organisers at the EBU to facilitate a discussion about the inclusion of Israel in the song contest.
The request was sent by the broadcaster’s Director General, Kevin Bakhurst. This followed a call from RTÉ members of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), who asked the broadcaster to formally oppose Israel’s participation.
RTÉ calls for discussion on Israel at Eurovision
Mr Bakhurst did not go to the full lengths of what the NUJ members called for. Instead, in line with other European broadcasters, he suggested that an open debate on the matter should take place:
“I am appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages.
“Notwithstanding the fact that the criterion for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest is membership of the European Broadcasting Union, RTÉ has nonetheless asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion in the contest.
“In doing this, we are mindful of RTÉ’s obligations as an independent, impartial public service news and current affairs provider, and of the need to maintain RTÉ’s objectivity in covering the war in Gaza. We are also very mindful of the severe political pressure on Israel’s public service broadcaster, Kan, from the Israeli government.”
The Irish broadcaster follows its counterparts in Iceland, Slovenia and Spain in calling for a discussion on the appearance of Israel at Eurovision.
Ever since protests surrounding Israel’s participation at the song contest began in the run-up to Eurovision 2024, organisers at the EBU have repeatedly shut down these calls. They state that the event is a competition between public broadcasters rather than governments, noting the contest must remain apolitical.
However, these four countries, now including Ireland, raise the point that those public broadcasters should be able to undertake an open debate about the issue, rather than having the EBU dictate their position.
Eurovision Director Martin Green responds to NUJ letter
Newly appointed Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, Martin Green, commented on the NUJ’s letter as follows:
“No participating EBU member broadcaster, who have all been widely consulted, has ‘publicly opposed’ Israeli broadcaster Kan’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest – despite the claims in another letter from RTÉ journalists. The broadcasters mentioned in the letter, RTVE in Spain and RTVSLO in Slovenia, requested a discussion and RÚV in Iceland has informed us of their foreign minister’s comments on Kan’s participation.”
“[We] understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.
“It is not our role to make comparisons between conflicts.
“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.
“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. The EBU is supporting our Israeli Member Kan against the threat from being privatised or shut down by the Israeli government.
“The EBU remains aligned with other international organisations that have similarly maintained their inclusive stance towards Israeli participants in major competitions at this time.”
Emma O Kelly, chair of the NUJ Dublin Broadcasting Branch, explained the union’s reason for sending the letter to RTÉ’s Director General:
“The position of our members is clear. We do not believe that Israel should be allowed to participate in this year’s Eurovision, and we hope that RTÉ will adopt the same view.
“As journalists, we note Israel’s targeting and killing of Palestinian media workers, who provide photographic, video and online content to newsrooms across the EBU in the absence of international journalists gaining access to Gaza.
“As well as the loss of life we are deeply concerned at the impact of this on media freedom and the EBU’s stated values.”
Speaking again on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, she added:
“We decided this because we feel there’s a time to act – and that time is now. We collectively believe that there’s a moral obligation on RTÉ and on the EBU to act to suspend Israel. We don’t believe that the EBU needs a precedent, but if they want a precedent, they have it, and that precedent of course is Russia.
“In February of 2022, just days after Russia invaded Ukraine, the EBU acted immediately to suspend Russia from the Eurovision competition.
“We believe that was the right course of action then, but unfortunately, the actions of Israel over the past year-and-a-half in Gaza have put what Russia did in those first few days in Ukraine absolutely into the ha’penny place. We have 50,000 more killed, 17,000 children, tens of thousands more children maimed in Gaza – every child traumatised.
“We have a case for plausible genocide before the international courts. We have arrest warrants out for the Prime Minister of Israel, and we are saying to the EBU, when does it draw a line?
“If all of this isn’t enough, then what is?”
There have been repeated calls from musicians, fans, unions, human rights activists, and other notable figures for Israel’s removal from Eurovision since the beginning of the Israel-Gaza war in October 2023. The conflict has seen more than 52,000 people killed in Gaza, with multiple international organisations accusing Israel of committing war crimes and acts of genocide.
The war began when Hamas carried out an attack in southern Israel on 7 October 2023, during which 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.
Earlier this week, over 70 past Eurovision participants signed an open letter demanding Israel’s exclusion from the contest.
Why?! There are still thousands and thousands of innocent Israeli people who have ZERO connection to the conflict which still deserve to take part, be included and be entertained! – Jog on, RTE!
Would love to know why Wiwibloggs still covers anything from Israel at all. Blank them out. Don’t engage with their entries. Forget they exist. That would be best.
How grown up of you.
In my opinion, that’s not right. We must give voice to those who are silenced.
They are far from silenced.
The ESC code of conduct says…
the ESC must remain an inclusive platform where artists can showcase their talents free from political influence, and within a joyful atmosphere of celebration and unity.
If you don’t want to perform with Israel, you don’t comply with the contest conduct so go home and you won’t be missed
The EBU has abandoned all common sense and morality. They’ve traded their values for blood money.
This is so messed up. They could have appealed the EBU months in advance to raise chances the situation can be discussed. Now, at the peak of Eurovision season, it is just to late. Moreover, it is rather dangerous. Last year showed how much the Isreali delegation is in threat of becoming assassinated. No participant should live through that… as no one in Ga*a or Israel should, of course. And: Please, be careful with your words joining a debate on who is European enough or not. Europe is diverse in many ways and Eurovision should be inclusive above all. I… Read more »
Well done, Ireland!
Medium rare at best. Seriously, it reeks of insincerity and desperation because nothing can be done about 2025. It’s over – get used to it. Make a worthy and steady effort starting the day after May 17 so that Israel’s broadcaster is found ineligible and incompatible with the EBU’s terms of engagement.
These calls have been made since early 2024, so I don’t think (I may be wrong, of course) it’s about ESC 2025 only.
They have, but the extent of the ruins and the death toll of innocent civilians (not referring to Hamas leaders, chain of command, militants, fighters and perpetrators of 7.10) was far less then it is a year later by a longshot. The fact that 4 out of the big 5 countries other than Spain refused to openly call for Israel’s exclusion nor actively engage in discussions leading towards it explains why things stand as they are now.
What about agreeing all 4 (and the silent ones) on threatening EBU to withdraw if there isn’t a debate? Obvious humanitarian and genocide reasons aside, politics will affect on the music contest itself and on the results as it did last year. Aren’t politics banned in the contest? What s this? What was Ukraine victory in 2022? Politics.
I agree that country shouldn’t be in Eurovision for multiple reasons- they are not in Europe they are not European culture they don’t accept European values and they don’t respect anyone! – but let them spend their money in Europe we will take it – we all know that country don’t have a chance to win anyway-
C’mon Sweden, use those persuasive powers of yours
Maybe the irish should focus on not sending awful sings
Maybe you need to be more sensitive to what’s going on in Gaza
Like the Israeli, Thai and Nepalese people who are kept in Gaza in deep dark moldy tunnels underground.
Ask for… Call for… Bla bla bla… How about daring to act?!?! Set an example: Withdraw! And you will see how the EBU will finally get into action.
Maybe we should all vote for Israel to force a win. Then it’s atleast 100% certain EBU needs to discuss it next year.
No promo for [country]! Let’s vote other countries to ensure [country] not to win at 2nd semifinal! If it gets into the Final, vote other countries!
Are u afraif of typing ISRAEL?
If Israel wins, I can already see this scenario happening. I think Ireland, Iceland, And Slovenia might threaten to boycott and/ or withhold their EBU membership dues unless Israel is not allowed to host the contest or even allowed to participate. And that could cause a chain reaction of Nations to follow suit (not all of them, I can still see some countries participating regardless). Either the pressure will force the EBU to block Israel from hosting or participate, or they double down and protect Israel from explosion, and we end up having an even smaller contest of countries. Obviously,… Read more »
Israel is not going to win by any stretch of the imagination. They may score high with the televote though, but not with the juries. In the wild imagination case thst it wins, it will not host it anyway so the country endong second would mosy likely host. Crisis averted. Besides, who knows if Israel will actually take part in 2026 with more pressure applied on the EBU to have it banned?
All good points. I don’t want Israel winning either. I do expect a lower jury score to counteract a potentially high televote score to keep Israel from winning. Besides, it would be a terrible winner even without the controversial backdrop.
The crisis would not be averted that easily. This is not 2022. Will the runner-up actually want to host “on behalf of Israel” like BBC did for Ukraine? I highly doubt it. Complete with Israeli intervals, Israeli co-host, the Princess of Wales playing New Day Will Rise on piano etc.
I can’t see it.
I can as long as KAN fulfills its duties as a public broadcaster, but this is such a non-issue unless you buy into that trope that it buys votes and manipulates the EBU through Moroccan Oil or other financial means.
I don’t, but I do firmly believe in some hardcore fanatics trying to spam the vote regardless of song quality.
fair enough
In my opinion, if Spain, being one of the top 5, has not managed to make the rest of the countries reconsider, being one of the largest contributors ?, I don’t think these countries will succeed, unfortunately.
For now, those four broadcasters are just asking for the EBU to open a discussion about Israel’s participation at Eurovision, not a demand to exclude Israel from Eurovision. I don’t see that happening until the 2025 contest is over at the very least.
Well, if we want the contest dead and never happening again, we could do that
Well it’s just the reality we are living in. It’s either that or the country that shall not be named will never get thrown out of eurovision.
It is vacuous and counterproductive to regurgitate conscientious lip service talking points just days before Israel’s 2025 participation. It’s already a done deal and there was plenty of time to take a stand and withdraw if you really wanted to put your money where your mouth is unless your morals are as flexible as a contortionist which they are. If you want to have a serious discussion, start immediately after this year’s edition is over when the national broadcasters’ delegations convene and start rolling the ball. Don’t forget that the current Israeli government is already doing the job easier for… Read more »
Well, only a few short months ago there was hopeful talk of ceasefires and such… who could predict what the scene would like in May? Things keep getting worse and worse and worse.
Unfortunately talk is not a guarantee to a successful implementation of a ceasefire deal and after nearly two months it collapsed. Therefore, Ireland’s moment of epiphany at this stage is nothing more than an act of virtue signaling for domestic purposes. I’m not impressed by it. At least Slovenia already brought it up back in December 2024 when it didn’t seem urgent.
Well if you took the time to do a bit of digging you might discover that Ireland has been voicing it opposition to what’s been going on in Palestine for the last 18th months but not everyone wants to listen, it’s not some “last minute epiphany” There’s been quite the war of words going on with the Israelis deciding to close their embassy her last year while the silence from some parts of Europe has been positively deafening.
Joost Klein was officially disqualified 5 minutes before the jury final. Its never too late to do the right thing.
You don’t have to because the Israeli themselves sending messages to peoples on YouTube persuading them to vote for Israel.
True a total boycott