Spain officially announced Thursday that it will boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates.
The broadcasters’ union harshly criticized Israel, saying it has “systematically violated the contest’s rules and used them for political purposes at a time when other countries are punished for the same behavior.”
There is no surprise in Spain’s decision, but it could carry serious weight for Israel: a decisive meeting on Israel’s participation is scheduled for next week. Spain is considered one of the contest’s strongest and most influential countries as part of the so-called “Big Five.”
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Israel's Yuval Raphael in the finals of the 2025 Eurovision
(Photo: Fabrice Coffrini/ AFP)
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) had hoped that revised Eurovision rules would satisfy countries opposed to Israel’s participation. Nevertheless, Spain, along with Slovenia, remains unsatisfied and has declared it will boycott.
Next week in Geneva, the Israeli delegation — including the CEO of the Kan national broadcaster Golan Yochpaz, and lawyer Ayala Mizrahi — will attempt to persuade EBU and participating broadcasters to forgo a formal vote and allow Israel to stay in the contest on the grounds of a principle‑based discussion over its eligibility.
The most significant support Israel currently has comes from the hosting country Austria and from Germany, support that might ultimately tip the balance in Israel’s favor.