Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
BBC Director General Tim Davie stated on Monday that the corporation is “aware of the concerns” regarding Israel’s participation in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, maintaining the event “has never been about politics.” Speaking before parliament’s public accounts committee, Davie indicated the BBC would “work with” the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the contest’s organizers, as several European broadcasters and political groups threaten a boycott over Israel’s ongoing actions in Gaza.
EBU’s Role Amidst Calls for Boycott
Davie stressed the importance of preserving the contest’s celebratory element, describing it as a “celebration of music and culture that brings people together.” He expressed support for the EBU’s ongoing discussions and decision-making process with its members regarding Israel’s potential involvement.
The EBU is currently consulting widely among its membership to determine if Israel’s inclusion could bring the competition into disrepute, a process similar to previous decisions concerning geopolitical issues.
Growing Opposition to Israel’s Participation
Broadcasters from Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, and Spain have publicly threatened to boycott the event if Israel participates. Spain’s Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez have explicitly called for Israel’s exclusion from the competition.
In the United Kingdom, Green party leaders from England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland urged a potential UK boycott in a joint letter to Davie. Additionally, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants previously signed a letter advocating for Israel’s ban from the 2025 competition, which will be held in Vienna.
Geopolitical Context and Accusations
The calls for Israel’s exclusion are largely tied to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Spain, along with Norway and Ireland, recently acknowledged a Palestinian state, and Prime Minister Sánchez last week accused Israel of genocide, announcing an arms embargo.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Saar responded by accusing Sánchez’s administration of antisemitism and using “wild and hateful rhetoric.” Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly denied starvation is occurring in Gaza and attributes any hunger to aid agencies and Hamas.
The UN-backed food monitor, the IPC, confirmed famine in parts of Gaza, with Israel accused of restricting food and medical aid. Israel launched its war in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, at least 64,871 people have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza since then.
Precedent for Exclusion
It is not unprecedented for countries to be uninvited from Eurovision for political reasons. In 2022, Russia was banned from competing following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
At the time, the EBU stated that Russia’s inclusion could bring the competition into disrepute “in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine.” Ukraine subsequently won that year’s contest.
Outlook
As the EBU deliberates on Israel’s participation, the controversy highlights the persistent tension between the Eurovision Song Contest’s stated non-political ethos and the geopolitical realities that often intersect with cultural events. The decision will likely have significant implications for the contest’s future and its perceived neutrality.
