During the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025, RTVE commentators Tony Aguilar and Julia Varela discussed the need to open a debate about Israel’s presence in the festival. They highlighted that the Gaza invasion by Tel Aviv has resulted in over 50,000 civilian casualties, including nearly 16,000 children. They used the introduction video of Yuval Raphael’s song, the Israeli representative, to clarify the public broadcaster’s stance, one of the few openly advocating for a review of the Middle Eastern country’s participation in the contest.
The Israeli public broadcaster protested, and on Friday, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) threatened RTVE with “punitive fines” if any reference to the situation in Gaza is repeated. “It is essential that your commentators adhere to these rules without exception […] to preserve Eurovision’s apolitical nature and comply with the ethics and standards established in the rules. We expect full cooperation from RTVE to prevent recurrence. Any further breach may result in punitive fines according to the rules,” warned a statement signed by the president of the Eurovision Reference Group, Swiss Bakel Walden, and Swedish Martin Osterdahl, the festival’s executive supervisor.
Didn’t they boot Russia from this contest for invading Ukraine? Seems like they’re selectively apolitical.
Sorry for the essay answer, but I hope this gives some more insight into the situation.
Since the Eurovision is between broadcasters, not directly between countries, it depends on whether the broadcaster qualifies as a member of the EBU or not. The official stance of the EBU is that Russia’s Channel One (which represented them) did not fulfill the requirements to remain a member of the EBU, which is absolutely true. Channel One is 100% under Putin’s control.
But I find it hard to believe they lost their independence in 2022, and should have been banned long before. However, in 2022 there was a lot of pressure from other broadcasters to finally kick Channel One for not fulfilling the requirements, and the EBU couldn’t argue against it, so Channel One was banned.
Regarding Israel, their participating broadcaster KAN is (according to EBU) fulfilling all requirements to remain a member, although there has been some back and forth regarding their membership. Especially in 2018, when Israel won and prepared to host the next year, Netanyahu wanted to make some changes that was against EBU’s rules. In the end, Netanyahu had to back down or the competition would’ve had to be hosted elsewhere.
So it seems like KAN isn’t under the same control of the government as Channel One is, although in my opinion neither one is independent enough to be in the EBU (considering the Israeli government’s involvement in ad campaigns).
But the real reason KAN is still a member is that not enough other broadcasters are protesting. We need to see similar protests against KAN as we saw against Channel One in 2022 in order to get them banned.
There is, however, one more important piece of the puzzle; the purpose of the EBU. The EBU does a lot more than organize the Eurovision. They aim to protect and promote the free press in and around Europe. Currently, the largest reason KAN remains somewhat independent is that it allows them to pump their propaganda to the European audience. If the EBU were to ban KAN, Netanyahu would most likely take away their last bit of independence.
The real question should be about whether KAN still operates freely enough to make their yearly propaganda show worth it. From what I can see, there is no criticism from KAN towards the government, which really makes me doubt their independence.
The EBU does a lot more than organize the Eurovision. They aim to protect and promote the free press in and around Europe.
Ah yes, nothing says “free press” like not letting broadcasters share their opinions.
I agree, but that’s also where it gets complicated, since the Eurovision is “apolitical”, so it’s in the Eurovision rules that you shouldn’t talk politics during the show.
That’s not coming from the EBU, which is very much political. But why Israel is allowed to be so political in the Eurovision is where the double standard comes in.
Can’t really be apolitical when they let a country committing genocide to participate
Wow, thanks for the thorough answer. If I could tl;dr that to make sure I understand correctly: there’s an EBU rule, which is rarely and selectively enforced, that members can’t be propaganda networks. Russia’s network was a clear violator, but there were no calls for enforcement until they invaded Ukraine. Israel’s network may be in violation as well, but it’s less clear-cut and there’s less appetite for enforcement. Did I get that right?
Pretty much yes!
Awesome, I now know more about Eurovision than any other American.
And probably most Europeans. I had no idea about this until just now
We need to see similar protests against KAN as we saw against Channel One in 2022 in order to get them banned.
This is the only way. I know it will not sway my local broadcaster′s view in any major way, but I plan to write to them that we should drop out if Israel will participate in 2026. Perhaps I will not be the only one and will add a drop to the overall bucket.
100%
If they wanted to make it apolitical, they should not let a country run by a genocidal murderer participate in the contest.
Why Belarus was kicked out of the EBU and not Israel?
Based Spain.
Why would you fine someone talking about the truth about what happened?
Because it’s a light entertainment show.
It’s not light entertainment when a country is commiting genocide and is very heavily using the show as a PR stunt to make said genocide seem legitimate (Israel has worked hard to try to sway the vote as much as possible, spending huge sums on online ads etc. No country does that when it’s light entertainment). Acknowledging the genocide is the least you can do.
What exactly would happen if they just ignored the threat and refused to pay the fine?
Would be great if all contestants ignored it and be like ‘take it or were all out’
They would be removed from the Eurovision programme, so would find it much harder to get their sport, news and live event programming, as well as being ineligible for entry into the Eurovision Song Contest.
It would be a tough decision to kick out one if the “Big 5”, i.e. the ones that pay the most for the event, even at the expense of Israeli sponsorship and paid televote.
The big 5 each pay around €300,000 as an entrance fee, and about the same again for its delegation accommodation, recording the song, costumes and props. So it’s a very modest sum, and if one individual broadcaster backed out, that money would be found elsewhere.
The whole point of the ESC is that it’s a whole evening’s programming (and the week leading up) that is extremely cheap on a per-broadcaster basis. For example, €300,000 is roughly equivalent to two EastEnders episodes.
at that cost point Israel would have no issues subsiding the missing funding for exposure…
Here in uk presenter said something like “i am not sure what you are hearing on broadcadt, but here the reception is mixed”. While on broadcadt we heard cheers
TLDR: No one would care cause no one care about Eurovision
I’m sure they have contracts, so a lawsuit would follow.
Since Spain now, iirc, recognises Israel’s actions in Palestine as a crime against humanity if it goes to a Spanish court then they might have decent odds on being able not have to pay.
If they take it to a Dutch or Swiss court then I don’t think they could avoid having to pay.
EBU HQ is in Geneva so it would be under Swiss courts.
