The Eurovision Song Contest faces a battle for its future at a "watershed" assembly in Geneva this week.
The EBU and competing nations will deliberate on whether Israel should be permitted to take part in the contest, amid protests over its military actions during its war in Gaza, and accusations of biased televoting.
Nations including Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands have stated they will boycott Eurovision if the Israeli delegation competes. The German broadcaster has suggested it will pull out if the nation is excluded.
Stage Storming and Result Controversy
The general assembly follows demonstrators sought to halt both the 2024 and 2025 editions, referencing their protest against the fatalities in the Gaza Strip.
At this year's grand final in the Swiss city of Basel, two people made a move for the performance area and throw colored liquid over Yuval Raphael. They were stopped by security and subsequently detained.
The singer eventually took silver in the competition, after a decisive victory in the televote.
However, the outcome triggered a backlash from competing nations, who argued Israel's government had manipulated their result through a large-scale promotional drive, encouraging people across Europe to support their song.
Israeli officials has remained silent on these claims but often states it has been subjected to a worldwide disinformation effort.
Tighter Measures
Last month, Eurovision organisers announced they were tightening the contest's voting rules to limit the impact of national authorities on the scores.
Without naming Israel, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said it would "discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns", particularly if they were "sponsored by third parties, such as governments or governmental agencies".
It further stated that viewers would only be allowed a maximum of 10 votes, decreased from 20; and that steps would be enacted to improve the detection of "manipulated or systematic voting activity".
"It is our hope these new rules will assure broadcasters that we have implemented robust steps to protect the non-political nature of the Eurovision," contest officials declared.
A Defining Moment
It is believed that the new rules will be enough to address participants' apprehensions over the participation of Israel at the event.
The proposals will be put to member broadcasters - among them the head of the BBC - at the organisation's twice-yearly assembly on Thursday.
If they are not satisfied the reforms are adequate, there will be a vote on whether Israel can participate.
The president, head of the board at Slovenia's public broadcaster, stated to news outlets she expected such a ballot to go in Israel’s favour.
If that were to happen, Slovenia would decline to take part in or broadcast the contest.
"It is clear the audience are disappointed," she stated. "Personally, I love the contest and it's regrettable because Vienna is nearby and we cannot attend. "However, we need to follow our ethics and in my view this is the right path. Sometimes we need to be on the right side of history, and this is the moment."
Eurovision expert an observer described the circumstances "a critical moment for the contest and its organizers."
"Nobody benefits from this. It is regrettable that an event designed to be unifying has now become a political tool."
Opposing Positions
A ballot on Israel's participation was initially scheduled to occur in November, but it was called off following the announcement of a halt in fighting in the Gaza Strip on 10 October.
Roland Weissman, head of the host broadcaster - which will host the 2026 event in Vienna - later met with officials in the country to consult its broadcaster and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
At that time, he told reporters that Israel is "an inseparable part of the contest."
Not everyone shares this view.
The Spanish delegation, one of the largest contributing nations that contribute significant funding to Eurovision, has committed to pull out if Israel competes, saying the nation had exploited the contest as a platform.
In testimony before a parliamentary commission, the head of the Spanish public broadcaster declared he believed Israel's participation was "unacceptable, calling its actions in Gaza a act of genocide.
"Speaking officially, I believe that Eurovision is a competition, but fundamental rights are non-negotiable," he said.
Israel has always refuted charges of genocide in the Gaza Strip, where the casualty count has exceeded 70,000, citing local health officials.
If a decision to exclude the participant were to pass, Germany would likely withdraw and refuse to air the event, a broadcasting industry source informed the media.
Officials from the Israeli public broadcaster indicated it was convinced talk about excluding their country were baseless, claiming that KAN was in complete adherence with the contest regulations.
Prior to the assembly, before the key vote, the Israeli delegation issued a statement stating it was pressing ahead with its plans for the Vienna edition.
