Israel’s national broadcaster CEO Golan Yochpaz insists Eurovision must not become political, responding to boycott threats and possible vote over Israel’s participation.
Golan Yochpaz, CEO of Israel’s public national broadcaster KAN, publicly addressed today (Monday) for the first time the controversy over demands to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2026.
“There is no reason Israel should not continue to be an integral part of this major cultural event, which must not turn political”.
Yochpaz declared. The threats of national broadcasters in Slovenia, Ireland, and the Netherlands to boycott the contest if Israel participates had so far been addressed only by politicians, including Minister of Culture and Sports Miki Zohar, but never by KAN.
“Israel – Among Eurovision’s Top Performers”
In his remarks, Yochpaz highlighted Israel’s success since KAN was founded:
“Since its creation, Israel has been one of Eurovision’s most successful participants – in the past seven years, our representatives reached the fifth, third, second, and first places”.
He also praised the broadcaster’s work:
“There is no other media outlet in Israel that delivers such a broad range of content, providing a deep portrayal of Israeli society, with billions of views and listens across digital, TV, and radio platforms. This year too, KAN will produce groundbreaking, thought-provoking, and entertaining content – with a highlight being the 2026 World Cup, one of the biggest broadcast events in Israel’s history”.
Boycotts, Threats, and Rumors
Last week, Slovenia, Ireland, and the Netherlands announced they would officially boycott Eurovision as long as Israel remains a participant. Iceland and Spain hinted that they might also consider withdrawal if Israel participates. Yesterday, reports surfaced from unofficial sources that the EBU allegedly offered Israel a temporary withdrawal or to perform under a neutral flag. KAN has not confirmed these reports.
Ynet reporter Ran Boker revealed that European sources close to the contest suggested these two options to Israel to prevent what they described as a “humiliating disqualification”. According to the report, the “neutral” flag referenced could be the KAN logo, which broadcasters deemed acceptable compared to the Israeli national flag and government policies.
However, KAN is not expected to accept the neutral flag requirement or agree to a voluntary one-year withdrawal. Officials fear these concessions could create a precedent for permanent exclusion. Another unofficial suggestion, for KAN to publicly oppose government or military actions, is also seen as unrealistic. KAN has not confirmed receiving any such proposals.
Crucial Vote Expected on December 4th
The EBU confirmed its 95th General Assembly will take place in Geneva, December 4th–5th. While it has not officially stated whether a vote will be held on Israel’s Eurovision participation, it is widely expected. Traditionally, the first day is dedicated to formal procedures, meaning a vote on Israel could take place on December 4th.
If no vote is held, Israel will remain in the competition and participate in Eurovision 2026 in Vienna, Austria, as no other opportunity to vote would arise before then.
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.
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Maor Heumann has been writing about the Eurovision Song Contest and following it for over three decades. He has attended five contests and has found something to appreciate in almost every possible musical genre — from the sugary pop entries that finish last in the semi-finals to the quirky avant-garde pieces that even the competition’s juries struggled to connect with. He usually prefers original languages and songs with depth over Swedish-produced English clones — though he doesn’t promise to stick to that rule.
He grew up on the kibbutz of Sara’le Sharon, who instilled in him a love for music and created his first connection to the contest back in 1993 — before most of the current editorial team was even born.
