Over the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union in Geneva this Thursday, it has been confirmed through press releases that the broadcasters AVROTROS (The Netherlands), RTVE (Spain), RTÉ (Ireland), and RTVSLO (Slovenia) will boycott the 70th Edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, after the confirmation that Israel will be allowed to participate.
AVROTROS: "The participation of the Israeli broadcaster KAN this year is no longer compatible with the responsibility we bear as a public broadcaster."
The Dutch broadcaster outlines the "severe humanitarian suffering in Gaza, the suppression of press freedom, and the political interference during the last Eurovision Song Contest" that are now incompatible with their values. The statement released this afternoon states that the additional measures taken by the EBU do not change what happened during the last edition.
"What happened last year - the violation of universal values such as humanity and a free press, as well as the political interference in the previous Eurovision Song Contest - means that we have reached a limit. This remains paramount, regardless of any subsequent steps. Moreover, the situation in Gaza remains extremely worrying and fragile. It is currently too early to speak of a substantial, stable improvement that would justify participation in the Eurovision Song Contest based on our values."
RTVE: “We firmly believe that this situation should never have been allowed to develop.”
The Spanish broadcaster, along with seven other countries, has formally requested a secret ballot regarding Israel's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest at the Assembly. However, the EBU presidency has denied the request for a specific vote on the matter. RTVE Secretary General Alfonso Morales explained that the broadcaster considers the measures adopted by the EBU and the Reference Group "insufficient."
RTÉ: "Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza."
The Irish broadcaster’s position remains unchanged and will not participate, as well as will not broadcast the competition next year. The statement reads that "Ireland’s participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there, which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk. RTÉ remains deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza during the conflict and the continued denial of access to international journalists to the territory.”
RTVSLO: "Our message is: we will not participate in the ESC if Israel is there. On behalf of the 20,000 children who died in Gaza."
RTV Slovenia Board Chairwoman Natalija Gorščak reminded that the EBU had rejected the participation of the Russian representative in the week after the Russian aggression against Ukraine, and now the EBU does not dare reject Israel.
Gorščak added that she is not speaking about her personal beliefs, but the beliefs of the broadcaster as well as the Slovenian public and their performers. "For the third year in a row, the public has demanded that we say no to the participation of any country that attacks another country. We must follow European standards for peace and understanding. Eurovision has been a place for joy and happiness from the very beginning; performers and audiences were united by music, and it should remain that way," she added.
