The controversy over Israel’s participation in Eurovision has never been louder or more turbulent. Several countries have already threatened to withdraw from the contest, and now – Poland’s national broadcaster responds for the first time!
As reported on Euromix, Slovenia, Ireland, and the Netherlands officially announced last week they would boycott Eurovision 2026 as long as Israel remains a participant. Alongside them, Iceland and Spain hinted they might also withdraw under the same condition. Now, Poland’s national broadcaster TVP, has joined the heated discussion with its first official and somewhat evasive statement.
What Did Poland Say?
The Polish website Pudelek contacted TVP to ask whether Poland would participate in Eurovision 2026. In its official reply, TVP stated that no decision had yet been made regarding Poland’s participation but stressed that the public channel is closely monitoring the developments surrounding the contest. TVP underlined that, as a member of the EBU, it maintains ongoing dialogue with organizers and will respect any final decision taken. The broadcaster expressed confidence that such a decision will embody the core Eurovision values of unity, diversity, and tolerance.
At Euromix, the impression is that this statement refrains from taking a firm stand on either side of the controversy. Poland’s national broadcaster appears determined to remain neutral, keeping its distance from the escalating conflict at this stage.
EBU’s Response: “Each Broadcaster Decides Whether to Participate”
Martin Green, the contest’s executive supervisor, stressed that participation in Eurovision is voluntary:
“The EBU will continue to maintain neutrality regarding the Middle East conflict”.
The vote on Israel’s suspension is expected December 4th-5th during the EBU General Assembly. Green added that by mid-December, each country will be required to confirm participation, and each national broadcaster will decide independently: “We will respect every decision”.
The EBU’s regulations allow suspension or expulsion of a country only through a special vote with a qualified majority, and only in extreme circumstances. Therefore, despite pressure from Slovenia, Spain, and Iceland, suspending or excluding Israel does not seem realistic at this stage. Nevertheless, Slovenia’s declarations and threats, along with the possibility of more countries joining a boycott, place significant uncertainty over the Vienna contest. Will Israel ultimately take part in the competition? For now, it is impossible to say with certainty — but many are still holding their breath in hope.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the song performed by Yuval Raphael, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 11th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 203 points and finished second overall with 357 points in the grand final. Israel ranked first in the public vote but only 14th with the jury. This marks the third consecutive year that Israel has reached the top five – an unprecedented achievement.
Eurovision 2026: This will be Israel’s 48th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the contest in 1973 and has won four times. Its most recent victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy”, performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
Email: [email protected]
Phone: +972-50-9441919
Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
