The list is still aligning. The Netherlands will boycott Eurovision next year if Israel participates, announced on Friday, September 12, the Dutch public audiovisual association Avrotros, invoking the war in Gaza and Israel’s “interference” during the last edition of the song competition.
“The participation of Avrotros in Eurovision 2026 will not be possible while Israel remains within the Uuer (the European Radio-Television Union),” said the Dutch public audiovisual statement.
On the contrary, “if the Uer decides not to admit to Israel, Avrotros will be happy to participate next year,” he adds.
“Serious violations of press freedom”
Dutch radio and television is added to a list of countries that threaten to retire from the competition next year, scheduled for Vienna in Austria, Victorus Country this year.
On Thursday, Ireland, seven times winner in Eurovision, expressed her intention not to compete with Israel. In May, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had already considered that Israel should be excluded from competition in the future.
Avrotros justified his decision for the “serious violations of press freedom” committed by the Israelis in Gaza, according to their press release. It also accuses Israel of having committed a “interference proven during the last edition, involving the political instrumentalization of the event.”
The competition is organized by the European Radio-Television Union (URU), the First World Alliance of Public Service Media, founded in 1950, in cooperation with its members in more than 35 countries.
Source: BFM TV
