11.10.2025 00:41
Many countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain, have demanded the expulsion of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest. Following Germany, Austria has also expressed its support for Israel. Prime Minister Christian Stocker announced that if Israel is expelled, his country would refuse to host the contest.
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A striking move has come in response to the possibility of Israel being expelled from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest.
"WE WON'T HOST IF ISRAEL IS OUT"
In a joint press conference with the Secretary General of the ruling Austrian People's Party (ÖVP), Alexander Pröll, Prime Minister Christian Stocker announced that his country would refuse to host the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is excluded from the competition.
Austria, which won last year's contest with the song "Wasted Love" performed by Johannes Pietsch, known by the stage name "JJ," had earned the right to host next year's contest.
GERMANY HAD ALSO THREATENED TO BOYCOTT IN CASE OF ISRAEL'S EXPULSION
A similar step had come from Germany as well. Prime Minister Friedrich Merz stated in a press conference last Monday that Israel is a part of this competition and that even discussing its expulsion is "a scandal." Merz mentioned that if Israel is expelled from Eurovision, Germany should voluntarily refrain from participating in the music contest.
MANY COUNTRIES HAD REQUESTED ISRAEL'S EXPULSION
Many countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Belgium, and Spain, had demanded Israel's removal from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to the attacks in the Gaza Strip, stating that they would boycott the contest if Israel participated.
A VOTE WILL BE HELD
Following the requests, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, announced that all participating countries would come together in November 2025 to vote on whether Israel should be expelled.
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