Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, and the Netherlands have decided to boycott the 2026 edition of the Eurovision contest, in response to the acceptance of Israel's participation, in the context of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Irish and Spanish television stations, RTÉ and RTVE, have stated that they will not participate in the competition, considering Israel's presence unacceptable following the loss of human lives in Gaza. The EBU, the body that organizes Eurovision, announced that no additional vote was necessary for Israel's participation, which generated distrust among some member states. The Spanish Minister of Culture supported the boycott, stating that culture should promote peace and justice. The President of Israel expressed satisfaction with the decision not to exclude the country from the contest, emphasizing the importance of promoting culture and friendship between nations. Additionally, the BBC confirmed that it will broadcast the contest, supporting the EBU's decision to be inclusive.
Sources
Israel, undă verde la Eurovision. Patru țări anunță boicot
Patru țări boicotează Eurovision 2026 după ce Israelul a fost confirmat în concurs
Irlanda, Spania, Olanda și Slovenia vor boicota Eurovision din cauza participării Israelului
Eurovision: Israelul va putea să participe în 2026; patru țări au anunțat imediat că vor boicota concursul
Patru țări UE se retrag de la Eurovision după ce Israelul a primit aprobarea să participe în 2026: "De neconceput, cu criza din Gaza"
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