Iceland is trying to expel Israel from Eurovision

Iceland does not want Israel among the participants in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 and is threatening to boycott the event if an Israeli representative performs in it. However, Iceland has not yet made a final decision, and it will depend on the results of the internal competition to select its representative for Eurovision and the opinion of the winner, Icelandic broadcaster RUV reported on January 23.

“This is a competition between broadcasting corporations, not between governments,” they explained their decision. “Israel has been participating in the competition for 50 years.” The EBU promised that they would do everything possible to ensure that the event remains apolitical, because it unites countries and people through the sound of music.

In recent weeks, the European Broadcasting Union has come under intense pressure to ban Israel from Eurovision. In Iceland and Ireland, signatures are already being collected for a corresponding petition, the authors of which are calling on their management to refuse to participate in the competition if Israel is present.

Icelandic RUV decided to partially succumb to this pressure and therefore postponed the decision until the identity of the winner became known. This will happen in March. The international Eurovision Song Contest will be held in May in Malmo, Sweden.