this post was submitted on 19 May 2026
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[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 31 points 2 days ago (5 children)

Someone please explain again why Israel, a country that is definitely not in Europe, is participating in a european competition.

[–] anothermember@feddit.uk 27 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Because it's a contest for members of the European Broadcasting Union. Technically Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia could enter if they wanted to.

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 10 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Oh. Still doesnt really make much sense but hey ho.

[–] napoleonsdumbcousin@feddit.org 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

"The boundaries of the European Broadcasting Area have their origin in the regions served and linked by telegraphy cables in the 19th and early 20th centuries. The European Broadcasting Area plays a part in the definition of eligibility for active membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and thus participation in the Eurovision Song Contest."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Broadcasting_Area

[–] Corporal_Punishment@feddit.uk 8 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Ahhh, cheers. Now do Australia :D

[–] napoleonsdumbcousin@feddit.org 6 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Well they just asked nicely :)

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 1 points 2 days ago

And came straight in with the bangers. I didn't watch this year but I heard theirs was class again.

[–] huf@hexbear.net 2 points 2 days ago

it's eurovision, what made you think any of it made any sense?

[–] remon@ani.social 9 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Their wiki page pretty much covers it.

tl;dr: Any country that is a member of the European Broadcasting Area or Council of Europe can participate.

[–] MrNesser@lemmy.world 5 points 2 days ago (3 children)

I still don't understand how they came in 2nd

[–] ReluctantlyZen@ani.social 10 points 2 days ago

Votes are pretty easily astroturfed. You vote by buying votes and can vote more than once if you have multiple debit and credit cards

[–] Zorque@lemmy.world 10 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Because all the people who didn't like them boycotted it.

[–] davepleasebehave@lemmy.world 9 points 2 days ago

and their votes were split over multiple countries. the AstroTurf gang only have to convince a few hundred people to bit multiple times for Israel and they look popular. it helps construct a narrative that most people agree with Israel.

And it's cheap as well.

[–] khannie@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

You can vote up to 20 times in the public vote. It's scandalous.

[–] ji59@hilariouschaos.com 0 points 2 days ago (1 children)

I was surprised too, but I can tolerate Israel as being close enough. But having Australia in Eurovision is completely insane.

[–] Lenins_Dumbbell@lemmygrad.ml 1 points 2 days ago

Yeah idk about you but most people really can't tolerate a country committing genocide in real time