They should do this with all countries doing war crimes. They did it with Russia, they should do it with Isreal.
this post was submitted on 19 May 2025
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EBU insisted it would be political to kick out Israel but said no such thing about kicking out Russia
But the more practical reason: a bunch of member states threatened leaving over Russia's participation and haven't done so over Israel
I really like the article you linked, because it gives an alternative explanation for why Israel is allowed to stay in the contest (other than "the EBU is really into genocide"):
In 2017, Benjamin Netanyahu abolished the old Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) – Eurovision in that year was its last broadcast. The reasons cited were financial, but commentators argue that it was a political move: the IBA was seen as too leftwing. It was replaced with Kan, the current broadcaster. Kan is more docile than the IBA – but still not docile enough for the government, which wants to it handed to the private sector. The communications minister, Shlomo Karhi, previously put forward a proposal to this effect in 2023, accusing the network of biased coverage and claiming that it spoke in a “disgraceful manner” towards members of the government. Such a body would be breaking EBU rules and would not be allowed into Eurovision.
The EBU feels obliged to protect Kan, even if that means risking the Eurovision brand. That’s what it was created for: to champion “free and independent” public service broadcasting. Running the Eurovision song contest is only tangential to that mission.
Basically the EBU is using the ESC as a bargaining chip to protect the independence of Kan. The problem with that: The Israeli government is taking advantage of that. And Kan doesn't seem to have a big problem with the actions of their government. After all even the "leftwing" IBA showed illegally occupied land in the 2017 postcards.
There is an easy reason why this isn't a policy: they'd have to consider banning UK and France every few years if it was.
I was really distrubed about this until I realized Moroccanoil is an Israeli company. Follow the money.
ahh yes the well known European country of Israel...
Although there are many complains to be had about the EBU, I feel like being inclusive outside of european borders shouldn't be one.
I'd love to see more countries join. Just not genocidal ones though.
So you want the Olympics of music, not the EUROvision
Your closed mindedness speaks for itself.
Just because something originated from one continent doesn't mean only people from said contient should enjoy it. It's not even an European Union competition, it came from Switzerland which was never part part of EU.
By your own logic only Greeks should participate in the OLYMPIC games. Olympe was in Ancient Greece. Mount Olympus is literary in Greece.
australia is really appreciating our inclusion! we’ve always participated a lot - from loads of watch parties all over the country, to australians representing countries, even australians organising various aspects (there are some aussies that work on various countries’ teams every year)… being included and able to participate fully is so nice!
I'm really grateful Australia joins each year.
"Hey you, it's me again, hey you": from down under with another banger.
we do love europe! even if it is over 22hr in the air to get there 🥺
if you liked this years from australia i highly recommend the music video! completely different vibe and imo makes the whole song much better… way more unhinged. i wish they went with a similar concept in the live performance!
I never mentioned the EU
Switzerland is a EUROpean country, the Eurovision existed before the EU... Like... Decades before.
If the Olympics were called "the Greek games" I certainly would be saying it's not meant to be an international competition, but the name isn't the name of a country, or continent, it's based on the name of a mountain.
Modern Olympic games were invented by a French guy. Inspired by, but have nothing to do with, the original ancient Greece games. They have nothing in common other than the name. I mean, the Greeks were stoked to host them since they had fought for their independence a few decades earlier. But the whole universalism and global fraternity and peace thing was made up by de Coubertin.
As it has been done since the dawn of time ans as it shall be done. MOGA! MOGA! MOGA!
Make Olympics Greek Again!!!
Just as long as the US never joins (and I say this as an American)
We take things way to seriously (and can't laugh at ourselves) and it would just kill the vibe...
I have always found it odd that Israel plays in UEFA European tournaments in football/soccer and yet Jordan, Lebanon, etc do not.
- It's not like they can play in 90% of the Asian countries to be fair
- I believe lots of countries "in the middle" choose their continent. I know it's the case for Russia and Turkey at least. Depending on the sports they'll go be small fish in a big pond to improve or get paid more (UEFA typically is more interesting than other football leagues) or big fishes in a small pond, where they can get nice placements and, where relevant, qualify for the Olympics more easily.
- (Would still be nice to have Eurovision be European, though.)
It’s not like they can play in 90% of the Asian countries to be fair
And why is that?
I know it’s the case for Russia and Turkey at least.
THAT is when the idea is debatable. Because they have such close history with what they define as europe and have part of their territory within the defined land borders. How Azerbaizan and Armenia qualify god knows. If Lebanon and Syria don't qualify regardless of their desires, then neither should be Israel.
Lebanon is allowed to participate. They don't, probably because it's too expensive and not worth it for them.
Then what is the qualification criteria? How white the country is? How close to a 'normal' european you look?
EDIT: No, you know what? I don't care. This is getting stupid for me. Not that eurovision is stupid, it is stupid because I don't even care about this, why am I getting so invested in this?
Being a member of European Broadcasting Union is the qualification criteria
Thank you. I won't ask what the qualifications are for joining the European Broadcasting Union. Because I don't care about this topic. I might a little, but it's better for me to not to. Thank you for informing me.
Nah, Eurovision should invite Canada like we did with Australia. But Canada doesn't care.
Odd doesn't begin to describe bribery in attempt to boost public image
+1 for Lebanon, and even Syria should be included
Lebanon is already allowed to compete (their national broadcaster Télé-Liban is a full EBU member) as is Egypt (National Media Authority), Algeria (Etablissement Public de Télévision Algérienne) and Tunisia (Télévision tunisienne). They just opt not to.
In this thread we are talking about inclusion in UEFA vs AFC vs CAF, not Eurovision. Lebanon is in the AFC, Egypt is in the CAF.
based
I like the intro video of the Israel singer is about cutting trees, the visual of her song is literally a mass bombing scene. So naked.
Yes please
Nice. Proud of Spain. At least publicly. Behind the scenes there still appear to be some ties to Israel.