Following progress toward ending the Gaza war, the head of the Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO, said that the ceasefire does not mean Israel should take part in the competition.
In light of the ceasefire and the EBU’s announcement that the vote regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 – originally scheduled for November – has been canceled and will instead be held during the pre-scheduled General Assembly on December 4th, the head of the Slovenian national broadcaster RTVSLO, Natalija Gorščak, notorious for her political stance against Israel, stated that despite the ceasefire, it would be better if Israel did not participate in this year’s competition, which will take place in Vienna, Austria.
The ceasefire initially gave hope among Israeli Eurovision fans that the threat of expulsion would be lifted and that Israel’s path to Eurovision 2026 would be secured. However, Slovenia has now joined the Netherlands, declaring that the EBU must expel Israel from the competition despite the ceasefire.
RTVSLO clarified that it firmly stands by its position and that even with a ceasefire agreement, its decision remains unchanged – Israel, in their view, must be excluded from the upcoming contest.
“The ceasefire alone cannot be the reason for us to immediately agree that Israel returns to Eurovision, […] It would make more sense for the EBU to remove Israel from Eurovision this year and prevent the potential political complications that would follow. But we’ll see – it’s definitely up to them to decide how and what to do”.
“Israel Conflicts with the Values of the Contest”
As early as July, during a conference in London, representatives of the Slovenian national broadcaster declared:
“If Israel participates in the Eurovision Song Contest – due to the genocide in Gaza’– Slovenia will not take part in the event”.
The broadcaster’s official statement today has now made that position binding.
This reflects the broadcaster’s consistent policy. Already back in 2024, its leadership expressed hesitation and criticism regarding further collaboration with Israel in Eurovision.
In the official declaration issued by the national broadcaster, RTVSLO, the following was written:
“The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition built on peace, equality, and respect among nations. The Slovenian national broadcaster questions whether these values are compatible with Israel’s participation. We are also deeply concerned about the killing of more than 200 independent journalists in Gaza. We express sympathy for the families in Israel waiting for the return of their loved ones, and for all those who long for peace”.
Slovenia at Eurovision 2025
“How Much Time Do We Have Left” is the title of the song performed by singer Klemen in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025. Slovenia failed to qualify for the grand final, after two consecutive years of success. The country finished 13th out of 15, earning only 23 points.
Eurovision 2025: This was Slovenia’s 30th participation in Eurovision. Slovenia joined the competition in 1993 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 1995 and Eurovision 2001 after finishing seventh twice.
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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.
