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Music|Eurovision Members to Vote on Whether to Exclude Israel
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/arts/music/eurovision-israel-vote.html
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The event’s organizer has called an extraordinary general meeting for November, with countries like Spain and Ireland saying they will not take part in the contest if Israel does.
Sept. 25, 2025Updated 1:43 p.m. ET
For weeks, the world of the Eurovision Song Contest has convulsed with debate over whether Israel should take part in next year’s competition given the growing humanitarian crisis amid its military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
Broadcasters from countries including Spain, Ireland and the Netherlands have said in recent weeks that they will withdraw if Israel takes part.
Other countries including next year’s host nation, Austria, have pleaded with them not to take such drastic action.
Behind the scenes, Eurovision organizers have been buying time, hoping to conjure up a non-divisive solution.
Now, a decision is set to be made.
On Thursday, the board of the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the high-camp event, said in an email that it would host an extraordinary general meeting in early November at which member broadcasters will vote on Israeli participation.
A Eurovision spokesman gave no further details.
In a letter to members, Delphine Ernotte Cunci, the union’s president, said the organization had “never faced a divisive situation like this before.”
