by Ilay Gaist Comment Closed




“Our job is to present reality”: Another sharp demand to boycott Israel at Eurovision, this time from Norway. Will the Norwegian national broadcaster finally break its silence?

The storm surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2025 refuses to subside. Just a few hours ago, we published an exclusive report in Hebrew about a letter from Eurovision artists opposing Israel’s inclusion – and now Norway takes center stage. Growing calls within the country are pressuring the Norwegian national broadcaster, NRK, to take a firm stand and demand Israel’s removal from the contest, amid the war in Gaza and accusations of human rights violations.

But it turns out that reality is more complicated than the campaign initiators might have anticipated. While the public uproar continues to gain traction, the Norwegian national broadcaster has already made a quiet yet resolute decision—one that surprises many involved. What really happened behind the scenes? How did the Norwegian broadcaster respond, and what strong message is it sending right now?




What Are the Campaigns in Norway Demanding?

In a sharply worded opinion piece published in a prominent Norwegian newspaper, a clear call was issued: “NRK must now demand that Israel be banned from the Eurovision.” The authors pointed out that Norway possesses “a toolbox full of peaceful political tools,” which, according to them, has largely remained unused.

The writers claimed that Eurovision, usually not seen as a major arena for global political struggles, has become a tool for Israel as part of a

“desperate PR campaign aimed at washing away the blood of around 52,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza. […] It might look like a glitzy song contest, but for Israel, it’s a crucial platform for international propaganda, and we have to take it seriously”.

They added.

Yet this raises a crucial question: Should a music competition, built on principles of unity and international understanding, be turned into a political battlefield? Many observers believe that efforts to mix culture and politics fundamentally contradict the true spirit of Eurovision.

An Attack on NRK – and the Hidden Contradictions

The article directed sharp criticism at Vibeke FĂźrst Haugen, CEO of NRK, and Charlo Halvorsen, head of entertainment at the national broadcaster. The writers asked: “How is it possible that NRK has not acted against Israel’s human rights violations when all the information is clearly available?” They also pointed out that, in contrast, when it came to Russia, NRK quickly supported a boycott after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

But here lies the inconsistency: the comparison ignores the crucial fact that at the time, Russian broadcasters no longer met the membership criteria of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which simplified the decision. Israel, by contrast, fully meets EBU’s clear criteria, and contrary to the accusations, its national broadcaster is independent from the state, as EBU has repeatedly confirmed.




Growing Pressure – and Internal Contradictions

Broadcasters in Slovenia, Spain, and Iceland have recently joined the boycott demands. On April 11th, 2025, the Spanish national broadcaster announced it had launched an internal discussion on the matter, and Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun previously stated:

“Many viewers feel uncomfortable that this event is being used, in his words, ‘to cover up a genocide’”.

Iceland’s Foreign Minister Thorgerdur Katrin Gunnarsdottir also voiced a similar position on April 22nd, 2025:

“I believe Iceland should examine this issue and take action with the European Broadcasting Union regarding Israel’s participation”.

Still, many ask: If Eurovision is truly intended to bridge between nations rather than exclude them, wouldn’t it be wiser to keep it a politics-free space? Time and again, the contest’s history has shown that attempts to introduce political considerations often undermine its core values.

The Official Response from NRK: A Clear Line

Vibeke Fßrst Haugen, Charlo Halvorsen, and Camilla Bjørn, director of the content division, issued a clear statement:

“Our mandate is to be a credible and independent media organization, 365 days a year. Our job is to present reality, expose civilian suffering, and hold those responsible to account – but not to become a political player. […] The war in Gaza is indeed a serious and important issue, but participation in Eurovision is determined solely by membership in the EBU, and Israel meets the criteria”.

It is worth noting that last year, Israel participated despite boycott threats, when Eden Golan performed the song “October Rain”, which was modified in accordance with EBU requirements. This year, Israel is sending Yuval Raphael – who has become a symbol of resilience in the face of mounting calls for exclusion.




List of Signing Artists

The article includes a list of 18 Norwegian artists who signed the letter, among them Elisabeth Carew, who competed in Norway’s national Eurovision selection in 2010 and 2014, and Marte Wulff, whose song participated in 2009. Other signatories include Lise Karlsnes (competed in 2012), Malin Pettersen (songwriter in 2013), and Jørn Hoel, who took second place in Norway’s 1986 national selection.

Here is the full list of signatories: Charlotte Qvale, Mari Boine, Sondre Lerche, Elisabeth Carew, Frida Ånnevik, Ravi, Lars Vaular, Fay Wildhagen, Ella Marie Hætta Isaksen, Erlend Ropstad, Lise Karlsnes, Malin Pettersen, Fieh (Sofie Tollefsbøl), Bugge Wesseltoft, Jørn Hoel, Daniela Reyes-Holmsen, Marte Wulff, Selma French.

A Troubling Reminder: Eurovision’s Core Values at Risk

The demand to boycott Israel joins a growing trend of politicization on the international stage – a development that also worries many of the contest’s devoted fans. These fans, who view Eurovision as a platform for cultural connection, are concerned about the potential impact of such political moves on the future of the competition.

The article’s authors concluded with the line:

“Maybe on May 17th, we can raise the Norwegian flag without shame”.

But some remind them that in boycotting Israel, it’s not just the Israeli flag that suffers – it’s also the fundamental principles on which Eurovision was built. The decisions made today won’t just determine Israel’s fate—they could reshape Eurovision’s very identity.




Eurovision 2025: Dates and Time

The Eurovision Song Contest for 2025 will take place in May, as per tradition. Here are the exact dates:

For those wondering “What time will Eurovision 2025 air?” each event will begin at 21:00 CET.

Sources: NRK, NRK.

Eurovision 2025: This will be Switzerland’s 65th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Switzerland joined the competition in 1956, being one of the seven founding countries, and has won three times over the years. Its most recent victory was at the last Eurovision in 2025, with Nemo’s song “The Code.” This win follows Switzerland’s previous victory in 1988 with the song “Ne partez pas sans moi,” performed by international singer CĂŠline Dion.