The EBU in Geneva additionally agreed on measures to “curb disproportionate third-party affect, together with government-backed campaigns,” and restricted the variety of public votes to 10 “per fee methodology.” RTVE known as the change “inadequate.”
Controversy earlier this 12 months prompted the modifications, when a number of European broadcasters alleged that the Israeli authorities had interfered within the voting — after Israel obtained the biggest variety of public votes through the closing.
The EBU has been in talks with its members about Israel’s participation for the reason that situation was raised at a June assembly of nationwide broadcasters in London.
Eurovision is run by the EBU, an alliance of public service media with 113 members in 56 international locations. The competition has lengthy proclaimed that it’s “non-political,” however in 2022, the EBU banned Russia from the competitors following the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 individuals in Israel, a big majority of whom have been civilians, and taking 251 hostages. The assault prompted a serious Israeli navy offensive in Gaza, which has killed tens of hundreds of Palestinians, lots of them civilians, displaced 90 p.c of Gaza’s inhabitants and destroyed broad areas.
The ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump in October 2025 led to the discharge of the remaining 20 Israeli hostages.
Shawn Pogatchnik contributed to this report.
