Eurovision 2026: BBC Boss Reacts To Broadcasters' Calls For Israel To Be Banned From Contest

Yuval Raphael, who represented Israel at Eurovision in 2025The BBC’s director-general has spoken out after multiple countries’ national broadcasters said they would not return to the Eurovision Song Contest next year if Israel is allowed to compete in 2026.Debate around whether Israel should be allowed to compete at Eurovision has been going on for a number of years now, because of the political situation in the Middle East.However, in the last two years, this conversation has become much more widespread, leading many Eurovision fans to boycott the contest as long as Israel is a part of it.Official discussions about whether Israel should be invited back to Eurovision in 2026 began among the competition’s participating broadcasters over the summer, with this conversation due to be revisited in the coming months.Since then, though, national broadcasters for Slovenia, Ireland and The Netherlands have all publicly said that they will pull out of Eurovision next year unless Israel is expelled, similar to how Russia was banned after its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.Speaking on Monday to the Commons Public Accounts Committee, director-general of the BBC Tim Davie said he was “very aware of the concerns” around Israel’s participation.Tim Davie in 2022He said (as reported by The Standard): “Eurovision never has been about politics and should be a celebration of music and culture that brings people together. That is really important, that we try and preserve throughout.“But at this stage, I’m supporting the European Broadcasting Union’s work, and they need to get on with it.”The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) refers to the collection of national broadcasters who help put Eurovision together each year.EBU members will resume their discussions about Israel’s participation in Eurovision before the end of this year.Davie continued: “This is a contest which is about the broadcasters from that nation submitting a song, ensuring that process works properly and is truly apolitical. There’s quite a lot of detail to get through for the European Broadcasting Union.“Then, as an independent BBC, we will look at that, and then we can go from there.”Earlier this month, Eurovision provided HuffPost UK with a statement from director Martin Green, which read: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. We are still consulting with all EBU Members to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions around the Song Contest.“Broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm if they wish to take part in next year’s event in Vienna. It is up to each Member to decide if they want to take part in the Contest and we would respect any decision broadcasters make.”Iceland’s broadcaster RÚV has also said it’s “likely” that if the EBU decides that Israel should remain part of Eurovision, they will withdraw.Meanwhile, Spain’s minister for culture Ernest Urtasun has called for the country to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel stays.Austrian singer JJ is the current reigning winner of EurovisionIt seems not every national broadcaster is on the same page on this issue, though.Back in July, it was reported by several outlets that the national broadcasters for Germany and Italy had threatened to pull out of Eurovision if Israel is not permitted to return to the event in 2026.Germany’s Südwestrundfunk (SWR) later told HuffPost UK: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a major musical event that has brought people across Europe and beyond together for decades – diverse and respectful, regardless of origin, religion, or belief.“The ESC is a music competition organised by EBU broadcasters, not governments. The Israeli broadcaster KAN adheres to applicable regulations and has been an integral part of the music competition for more than 60 years. We affirm their membership and the core values of the ESC.“We welcome the process initiated by EBU Director General Noel Curran. A former senior TV executive will engage in a structured, open dialogue with the members over the coming months to explore various perspectives and identify courses of action. The goal should be a well-founded and sustainable solution in line with the EBU’s values.”HuffPost UK also contacted Italy’s RAI at the time but did not receive a response.Last week, the BBC had no comment when approached by HuffPost UK on whether it had any intention to withdraw or remain part of Eurovision depending on the impending decision over Israel.MORE EUROVISION:This Is Why Next Year's Eurovision Song Contest Is Already Facing Controversy Over IsraelReigning Eurovision Winner JJ Calls For Israel To Be Removed From The ContestCéline Dion's Rep Hits Back At 'Entirely False And Potentially Damaging' Eurovision Claims

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