Germany in Eurovision 2025: Amid growing controversy, Germany reportedly threatened to withdraw from Eurovision if Israel was excluded. What led Germany to make this ultimatum to ensure Israel’s participation?
As the debate over Israel’s participation in Eurovision intensifies, a Turkish news site reports that one of the main reasons Israel was allowed to compete in Eurovision 2025—despite numerous calls for its removal—was a threat from Germany to withdraw if the demand was accepted. This claim comes from Dr. Martin Gak, a veteran German journalist with a clear anti-Israel stance, who cites a source within the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
The Threat That Saved Israel’s Spot?
According to Dr. Gak, the factor that prevented Israel’s removal from Eurovision, despite mounting pressure across Europe due to the war in Gaza, was a direct ultimatum from the German national broadcaster. The cited source stated: “If Israel is removed – we will also withdraw.”
Dr. Gak explained: “Germany is a very strong link in the EBU. When several broadcasters demanded Israel’s exclusion, the Germans made it clear that if Israel’s participation was suspended—they would also withdraw.”
He argues that this position aligns with Germany’s longstanding policy of close relations with Israel, reinforcing the notion that the threat was credible and influenced the final decision. It’s worth noting that Germany is one of Eurovision’s main financial backers, so a German withdrawal could have posed a significant economic blow, potentially jeopardizing the contest’s continuation.
Comparison to Russia
Comparing the decision to exclude Russia from Eurovision following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Gak criticized what he sees as double standards among contest organizers: “In Russia’s case, they claimed participation would harm Eurovision’s image—not for humanitarian reasons but due to branding concerns. So what about Israel?”
According to him, the fact that Israel was not excluded from the contest, despite military actions in Gaza, demonstrates what he describes as a troubling silence from European broadcasters. However, his remarks should be approached with caution due to his pronounced anti-Israel perspective.
Germany’s Interests
Dr. Gak provided a detailed explanation of why Germany defends Israel’s participation—and argues that it’s not solely due to historical guilt over the Holocaust: “The relationship between Germany and Israel is also based on mutual interests: trade, arms transfers, intelligence cooperation—it’s a very close relationship,” he explained.
He added that attributing everything to historical guilt misses the political reality: “After 15 years living here, I have another psychological explanation. Israel provides Germans with a kind of moral ‘certificate of forgiveness’—through this connection, they feel redemption.”
When Criticism Becomes Hypocrisy Disguised as Academia
It is difficult to ignore the sanctimonious and anti-Israel tone with which Dr. Martin Gak portrays Israel as the central problem of Eurovision 2025—while completely overlooking complexity, context, and facts on the ground. Presenting himself as a journalist and expert, he is quick to label a democratic country as a moral threat, yet chooses to ignore the threat of terrorism from which Israel defends its citizens. All this, without mentioning history, security context, or the complex reality of armed conflicts. Instead of journalistic analysis, Gak becomes an ideological mouthpiece—and when this comes from someone claiming objectivity, it is no longer criticism, but manipulation.
Germany at Eurovision 2025:
“Baller” (translated as “Shooter”) is the song that was performed by Abor & Tynna, representing Germany at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. Since they represent a sponsoring country, they automatically advance to the Grand Final, which will take place on May 17th. The song was written by the singers themselves along with Alexander Hauer and is performed in German. This marks the creators’ first Eurovision entry. Germany finished 15th in the final with 151 points.
source: cumhuriyet
Eurovision 2025: This was Germany’s 68th participation in Eurovision. Germany joined the competition in 1956, was one of the seven founding countries, and has won twice over the years. Germany’s last victory was in Eurovision 2010 with the song “Satellite” performed by singer Lena Meyer-Landrut.
