[IsraelTimes] Irish broadcaster says participating in competition with Israel would be ‘unconscionable’ given war in Gaza; Australian venue cancels performance by Israeli group Infected Mushroom
Amid mass protests at bicycle race, Spain calls for sports sanctions against Israel
[IsraelTimes] Sports minister Pilar Alegria says there is a ‘double standard’ in not banning Israeli teams from competitions, members should compete under neutral flag without anthem, like Russia
| Update from the Times of Israel at 8:50 a.m. EDT: |
Netherlands won’t join Eurovision next year if Israel participates, says broadcaster
The Netherlands has joined Ireland in saying it will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates in the event due to the scale of the suffering in Gaza, Dutch broadcaster AvroTros says.
Yesterday, Irish broadcaster RTE said Israel’s participation was “unconscionable” given the “ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza.”
Recent editions of Eurovision have seen protests at Israel’s inclusion over the ongoing war in Gaza, which followed the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel.
AvroTros said it had also taken into account the high number of journalists who have died in Gaza in deciding to boycott the 2026 contest, which was watched by 166 million people on television this year, if Israel attends. Israel has denied targeting journalists in the enclave and says some of those killed were affiliated with Hamas.
Israel came in fifth in the contest in 2024, and was the runner-up in the most recent edition earlier this year. |