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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Four countries boycott Eurovision after Israel allowed to compete

Israel Eurovision EBU Gaza Ireland Netherlands Gaza War Hamas RTE Slovenia
Eurovision 2026 will be held in Vienna in May. © eurovision.tv

Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia have withdrawn from Eurovision 2026 over the Gaza war after the competition's organisers cleared Israel's participation, plunging the competition into one of the biggest rows since it began in 1956.

After a meeting in Geneva Thursday, the European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, decided not to call a vote on Israel's participation, saying it had instead passed new rules aimed at discouraging governments from influencing the contest.

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