Germany, Italy back ‘Israel’ in Eurovision debate
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
Italy's public broadcaster RAI has publicly endorsed ‘Israel's’ participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, following a contentious vote by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The EBU's General Assembly, held on Thursday in Geneva, approved new rules to safeguard against government interference in voting, ultimately allowing ‘Israel's’ broadcaster KAN to compete without a further exclusion vote.
This decision comes amid ongoing debates sparked by the ‘Israeli’ assault on Gaza and in addition to allegations of unfair practices during the 2025 contest.
RAI stated today that it had voted in favor of KAN's inclusion during the assembly.
The Italian broadcaster cited its long-standing commitment to Eurovision, and contributions to the event's growth and its role in promoting music and cultural exchange - according to the statement.
RAI also confirmed Italy's own participation in the 70th edition of the contest, set to take place in Vienna.
Similarly, Germany's public broadcaster ARD has backed ‘Israel's’ involvement, asserting that KAN meets all participation requirements.
ARD described Eurovision as a platform for diversity and regretted any withdrawals, while welcoming the EBU's rule changes, in a statement aligning Germany’s historical sensitivity to all issues involving ‘Israel’.
In response to the EBU's decision, four countries—Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia—have announced boycotts of the 2026 event.
Ireland's RTÉ cited the Gaza crisis as making participation "unconscionable," while Spain's RTVE expressed distrust in the EBU's handling and confirmed it would not broadcast the contest.
Iceland is leaning towards withdrawal pending further discussions.
Other major broadcasters, including the UK's BBC and France's France Télévisions, have supported the EBU, with the BBC affirming the decision to allow ‘Israel’.
Nordic countries like Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Iceland have endorsed the voting safeguards, though some face internal pressure to reconsider.
The boycotts could impact Eurovision's viewership and unity, potentially reducing entries from the usual 40-plus nations.
