Drama ahead? According to reports, the European Broadcasting Union has appointed an external supervisor to assess Israel’s participation, and a decision may already be made next month!
On the backdrop of calls to expel Israel from Eurovision, reports indicate that a decision is not far off. The EBU has appointed an external supervisor who will present his recommendation in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, a special team has been established at the President’s Residence, led by President Isaac Herzog, with the aim of convincing European leaders not to expel Israel.
The Mysterious Figure and the Critical Decision
According to journalist Ran Boker from Ynet, a supervisor has been appointed, whose identity has not been revealed. He began several weeks ago with a round of meetings with directors of European national broadcasters. However, he has not yet made contact with the Israeli broadcaster KAN.
In Israel, some cautiously assess that the fact he does not come from a hostile country may be a positive sign. At the same time, they are preparing for every scenario. Among the possibilities: a clear recommendation to expel Israel as early as October, or alternatively, postponing the decision to a vote in December in Geneva.
A Special Team at the President’s Residence
According to the same report, on the diplomatic front intensive efforts continue to prevent expulsion. A special team was established at the President’s Residence under the leadership of President Isaac Herzog, who is engaged in talks with European leaders. Herzog himself told KAN that he is working tirelessly to prevent Israel’s expulsion. The purpose of the special team’s around-the-clock effort is to emphasize that Israel’s participation in Eurovision strengthens the contest’s values rather than undermines them.
The Eurovision Debate – Likely December 4th
Martin Green, the Eurovision contest manager on behalf of the European Broadcasting Union, clarified that participation is voluntary:
“The Union will continue to maintain neutrality on the Middle East conflict”.
The vote on Israel’s expulsion is expected to take place on December 4th–5th during the Union’s general assembly. According to Green, by mid-December each country must declare whether it intends to participate in the contest, with every national broadcaster making an independent decision: “And we will respect each decision”.
The Union’s regulations allow for suspension or expulsion of a country only through a special vote with a supermajority and only under extreme circumstances. Nonetheless, rising political tensions, growing calls for boycotts, and the possibility of additional countries joining such a move cast significant uncertainty over the contest set to take place in Vienna.
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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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.
