The Netherlands will withdraw from 2026 Eurovision if Israel is allowed to compete
https://nltimes.nl/2025/09/12/netherlands-will-withdraw-2026-eurovision-israel-allowed-compete
https://nltimes.nl/2025/09/12/netherlands-will-withdraw-2026-eurovision-israel-allowed-compete
111 Comments
Localhorst86@feddit.org · 172 pts · 348d
So that's how many members already?
-4-5?-Spain
-Ireland
-Slovenia
-Netherlands
-Iceland
Hope there will be more.
Taldan@lemmy.world · 59 pts · 348d
Add Iceland to the list too
lena@gregtech.eu · 46 pts · 348d
Slovenia has been up to some good stuff recently, first they imposed an arms embargo on israel, now this. I'm proud of my little country
Mihies@programming.dev · 10 pts · 347d
Didn't we say that we are not considering participation because organizer doesn't listen to us and not because of Israel? Anyway, waiting years for this realization is lame. Better late than never but still... Take note that many Slovene universities and other institutions still
merelymerrily collaborate with Israel, also we have bo problems hosting Israeli national sport teams and even use police to avoid protests and so on. And that arms embargo, Slovenia doesn't even know what transits through. We also don't want anything with lawsuits against genocide. Yes, it's a step or two in the right direction but far away from something big.lena@gregtech.eu · 4 pts · 347d
Fair point
Aceticon@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 9 pts · 348d
Small country, big hearth?!
pathief@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 348d
I feel ashamed that my country is not on this list.
Wispy2891@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 347d
Same, with even our ministry of the sports that said that "the Gaza operation is not as aggressive, not as bloody as the Russian invasion of Ukraine to justify banning Israel from the Olympics". WTF did you smoke?
Hanrahan@lemmy.world · 7 pts · 347d
As an Australian, same here.
That said its bemused me as to why we're even there.
pathief@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 347d
I was told the show is very popular in Australia, is that true?
I don't really mind the contestants outside Europe, I think it's pretty cool they invited Australia if Australians are indeed fans of the show.
Localhorst86@feddit.org · 5 pts · 348d
it might still come to consider it, don't give up hope, yet.
slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org · 144 pts · 348d
As shit as the European song contest is, i hope everyone does the same and only israel will vompete with no one.
ThePowerOfGeek@lemmy.world · 77 pts · 348d
Ireland announced yesterday that they will.
PixelatedSaturn@lemmy.world · 62 pts · 348d
Slovenia was first 🙂, but I think they weren't definitive about it. Probably they wanted to wait so they wouldn't be the only one.
MrMakabar@slrpnk.net · 49 pts · 348d
Israel gets kicked out way before that. They have a population of 10million. Spain and the Netherlands are much larger then that. More viewers = more money
Kyrgizion@lemmy.world · 49 pts · 348d
Maybe, but Israel has unlimited funds to throw at PR thanks to the USA, so I'm not sure population is going to be a deciding factor there.
azertyfun@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 348d
That's treading dangerously close to a specific kind of conspiracy theory there.
The EBU has pretty strong financial ties to Israel, not least of which their main sponsor Moroccan Oil. But at the end of the day you can count on the ghouls in charge to always find the coward's way out and follow the money. It's the exact same pattern of behavior they had with Russia in 2022, which they initially allowed to compete before backpedalling.
Pretending that this is an issue solely because of some conspiracy is not only baseless, but it also unfairly lets most European broadcasters off the hook for refusing to uphold the set the same hard lines with Israel that they set with Russia. Israel competed because European broadcasters were happy enough to include Israel. Simple as.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 44 pts · 348d
An Israeli company has been the main sponsor the past few years.
BakerBagel@midwest.social · 21 pts · 348d
You can easily replace a sponsor. Or better yet, dont! The shows didn't have a sponsor 10 years ago. Ads are ruining everything
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 14 pts · 348d
That'd be nice, but they, maroccanoil, have been main sponsor for the last five years, and are confirmed to again be this year. Dunno what the chances are of that changing at this point.
Also - I'm pretty sure they had corporate sponsors 10 years ago. They aren't shown in some countries broadcasts, but they've been there for some time.
Vittelius@feddit.org · 2 pts · 347d
Yes, but is there any evidence that Moroccan Oil is an activist company? They were founded by an Israeli, but in Montreal, Canada and are headquartered in New York, USA. They don't seem to have any direct ties to the Israeli military or government, because they are a haircare company. Companies usually care more about their bottom line than about their government's agenda (as long as the two don't collide)
I don't see how this one's involvement stops the EBU from kicking out Israel.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 347d
They themselves have often been criticised for potentially producing their product in occupied territory, but I don't think there is any direct evidence they're influencing the ebu.
The ebu themselves say there isn't any connection between Israeli participation and the sponsorship. At the same time, a sponsor probably has some amount of influence, and the ebu might try to avoid doing something that might not jive with their main sponsor without direct pressure.
In the end, it's all speculation, though.
galoisghost@aussie.zone · 18 pts · 348d
Australia are gonna sit quietly in the corner and not say a word in the hopes that Europe forgets we’re still allowed to compete
driving_crooner@lemmy.eco.br · 9 pts · 348d
Is Australia committing a genocide too?
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 348d
They did theirs last century, same with Canada.
Damage@feddit.it · 12 pts · 348d
If we counted the past there would be like 2 countries in Eurovision
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 4 pts · 348d
Yea, that's what I meant. They're not doing one now, they should be OK for Eurovision 2026.
Localhorst86@feddit.org · 2 pts · 348d
it's about Australia finally having a chance to win.
slaneesh_is_right@lemmy.org · 3 pts · 348d
Welcome to the european song contest where two countries that aren't european are competing in a battle of whom has the most forgettable musicians.
merdaverse@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 348d
Hey, we did get one good song out of it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVbShUW6QBM
coyootje@lemmy.world · 93 pts · 348d
As a Dutch person, I'm very glad we've made this decision. After reading about Ireland doing the same I didn't think we would but I'm glad that we did and also that we've decided on this somewhat early instead of waiting to see what the "bigger" countries are doing like we usually do with these things.
MetalMachine@feddit.nl · 78 pts · 348d
Why is israel, a country in the middle east, a part of Eurovision to begin with? Very telling.
excral@feddit.org · 57 pts · 348d
Because they are part of the European Broadcast Union (EBU), just like other non-European countries including Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Georgia. That said, just like Russia, their membership should be suspended.
I'm completely fine with non-European countries participating. Australia (the one with the kangaroos) isn't even an EBU member, but has been participating in the Eurovision for the last ten years and I think it's great to see the world grow closer like that.
Resol@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 348d
Tunisia and Lebanon tried to participate in 1977 and 2005 respectively (the latter even selected Aline Lahoud as their representative), but their participations were ultimately thrown out the window once they found out that Israel was there.
Morocco actually did participate in 1980, when Israel left after literally winning the second year in a row. Morocco never returned, even after recognizing Israel, and even in the later years when Israel was absent.
Algeria, Libya, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, and the Vatican City all can participate since they have broadcasters that are a part of the EBU, but they choose not to, mostly due to Israel participating, which half of these countries don't recognize. Also who would the Vatican even send to Eurovision, one of their Cardinals? Oh yeah, Kazakhstan, an EBU associate, even participated in Junior Eurovision, but never in the adult contest. They are in the running for a special invitation though, whether it actually happens is something only time will tell.
Wispy2891@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 347d
There was a nun who won The Voice
(But since that, she renounced her vows to focus on her musical career)
Resol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 347d
Guess I was such a clueless idiot.
vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 347d
Didn't the last Pope have a rock album?
Resol@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 347d
Yeah. But I bet the EBU's gonna be like "you can't send your leader, that's political".
Though, EBU's bullshit statements aside, I kinda wonder what fire music will be unleashed by Pope Leo.
VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 347d
Is there a different Australia or were you just making it clear it wasn't a typo for Austria?
nshibj@lemmy.world · 31 pts · 348d
It's a nonsense joke. Australia is also there. Just kill Eurovision and call it something else for fucks sake
huppakee@feddit.nl · 4 pts · 348d
CountriesOnEarthWithFreeSpeechAndAFunctioningDemocracyvision
lysol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 347d
Azerbaijan entered the chat
huppakee@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 346d
Now you mention them, interesting how Israel and Russia are matter of discussion and Azerbaijan isn't despite their invasion of Nagorno-Karabakh
lysol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 345d
I think we're seeing the same reaction as when Russia invaded Georgia in 2008. Basically "oh no this is not okay. anyway...".
huppakee@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 345d
Sounds plausible, Russia's invasion of Georgia didn't seem like a big deal to me back then. Same as Russia's first invasion of Ukraine in 2014. Media failed me in each of those cases. I feel like i'm having less blind spots as i get older, but i'm obviously still not fully there yet.
nickhammes@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 348d
Australia, Armenia, and Morocco are all outside of Europe, and have completed too. Basically all European countries are eligible, plus those whose public broadcasters are part of the European Broadcasting Union.
Resol@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 348d
Armenia being outside of Europe is still kinda debatable if you ask me.
nickhammes@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 348d
I mean, it's in western Asia, next to Azerbaijan and Georgia. "Complicated definitions of Europe" are part of the point here, but it's pretty clearly not Europe in my mind, but given the Turkish border, it's not far from Europe like Australia is
ADTJ@feddit.uk · 2 pts · 348d
Morocco? Completed it mate
IndustryStandard@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 347d
It is filled with European colonists.
Treczoks@lemmy.world · 40 pts · 348d
I wish my country was that smart.
goldenbug@fedia.io · 8 pts · 348d
Same :(
DreamAccountant@lemmy.world · 39 pts · 348d
It very important to note that Israel is NOT part of Europe. It's in the Middle East, which is in ASIA.
dubyakay@lemmy.ca · 42 pts · 348d
Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia. Heck, Australia.. If these are Europe, then so is Israel.
That said, I don't think we should exclude Israel from participating in Eurovision on a geographic basis. We should exclude them instead because they are an ethnofascist apartheid colony that's committing genocide on its population.
python@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 348d
They were also very clearly rigging the votes in the last Eurovision by having an online campaign aimed at making people vote for them (advertising like that is forbidden by Eurovision rules)
Treetrimmer@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 348d
Right, why were they ever allowed to compete, just cause it's a white country?
iglou@programming.dev · 33 pts · 348d
Because Eurovision doesn't have "Must be a european country" as a rule
8uurg@lemmy.world · 12 pts · 348d
Instead the rule is: must be a member of the European Broadcasting Union, which is notably different from Europe or EU: some African countries are members too.
Ghoelian@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 7 pts · 348d
It's because they're part of the EBU (not sure why though, the E here also stands for European). I think that's the actual qualification for entry.
yetAnotherUser@discuss.tchncs.de · 2 pts · 348d
The E in EBC is basically as relevant as the E in European Article Number (EAN) which are used globally.
BanMe@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 348d
Asiavision doesn't have the same ratings tho
biofaust@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 348d
They should really say that they will pull out of the show if israel and the zionists are allowed to sponsor the show through Moroccanoil and Estee Lauder.
THAT would hurt.
Jolly_Platypus@lemmy.world · 26 pts · 348d
Good. We need more of this. Israel needs to be isolated as the pariah state it is.
biofaust@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 348d
Israel should go back to sound as the bad idea it is.
Resol@lemmy.world · 25 pts · 348d
Countries are finally speaking up about this, I've been waiting for like, 2 years already.
Israel has undeniably brought the contest into disrepute twice in a row with them sending basically political entries with shady ad campaigns that made a select few voters disproportionately vote for Israel, causing them to spike up in the ranking (almost winning the 2025 contest; JJ is our savior), and yet the EBU just doesn't even care about this? And when Russia did the whole "let's take all of Ukraine" move, it took 10 countries to immediately speak up for them to get suspended. Ukraine won that year btw. Like... if the EBU are gonna keep saying the Eurovision Song Contest is "apolitical", then they have to accept the harsh reality that making your participants be countries immediately makes it otherwise. And this is not the exception, it's the norm. Both the Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup have had similar disrepute incidents in the past, most notably with apartheid South Africa.
Either way, if more countries drop out due to Israel's continued participate, that could ultimately result in enough awareness for the EBU to finally kick them out for good. Otherwise, the only solution is the privatization of their broadcaster, which literally nobody wants.
SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 347d
Also the commentator in the Israeli live broadcast called every artist who had called the war a genocide an anti-Semite on live tv. Yeah if the EBU wants their contest to stay apolitical than they need to ban the Israeli broadcaster for the commentator’s toxic comments.
Resol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 347d
This year in 2025, they even made fun of the Armenians. I can't remember exactly what they said, but it was definitely something along the lines of "I can't believe we gave these guys a quarter in Jerusalem"
I have ultimately lost faith in these commentators. So much for being an "independent reporter", EBU. I mean yeah, they're facing the threat of privatization, but for now they're public and state-owned, so there's literally no excuses here.
QuoVadisHomines@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 347d
And FIFA and the IOC are repeating the same errors in 2026 and 2028
Resol@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 347d
I mentioned both their competitions in my comment.
FreeBeard@slrpnk.net · 22 pts · 348d
Nice. Go make a better one with Blackjack and Hookers (all genders).
HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club · 2 pts · 348d
Sure thing, Rick from Empire Glass.
FreeBeard@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 348d
Even after googling i dont know what you mean. Please elaborate.
HobbitFoot@thelemmy.club · 1 pts · 348d
https://www.eastvalleytribune.com/news/gunman-gets-life-in-rick-chance-murder/article_88a29648-5991-5d66-91e0-31397324e51a.html
There was a guy who owned a car windshield replacement company who would give away free dinners or diamond necklaces if you hired his company to replace your car's windshield.
He was found dead with two strippers/hookers, one of either sex, some cash, and one of the diamond necklaces his company would give out.
TherapyGary@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 348d
madjo@feddit.nl · 22 pts · 348d
Oh wow, AVROTROS (the broadcaster) finally found a spine? Where was this last year after the incident with Joost Klein?
pulsewidth@lemmy.world · 9 pts · 348d
I don't think they found a spine so much as they've seen the turning of the tide in the media re: Israel Palestine conflict, with several major media outlets running pieces agreeing that it's a genocide in the last month or so (BBC, Sky, Reuters, etc).
Aside - I also would like to understand what the turning point was with these media groups where they suddenly pivoted from "Israel are purely defending themselves" to "this is a campaign of genocide". Its like they hit some arbitrary number. 67,026 = self defence, 67,027 = oh gosh oh wow that's genocide.
ayyy@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 348d
It’s a proxy war against the USA.
ctry21@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 348d
They are the 6th biggest contributor, and Spain has considered doing similar and they're one of the big five. It might actually change something since money will matter the most, and enough countries are dropping out that they may not have enough contestants to run the semi-finals. There's rumours that Italy, Germany, and Britain may withdraw if Israel is kicked out though. Maybe we just won't have a contest next year, and after the bullshit of the past two years I'm completely fine with that.
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 49 pts · 348d
If Germany and Britain drop out, anyone could come last.
Jolly_Platypus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 348d
lol
calamitycastle@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 348d
The German song was the best one last year by far though. A banger
huppakee@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 348d
For sure, they shouldve been top 3 at least
biofaust@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 348d
Italy's songs are such shit with the exception of MÃ¥neskin, that I don't think anyone would miss us.
I want to know what France does.
lime@feddit.nu · 17 pts · 348d
it's just going to be israel and sweden left at this rate
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org · 20 pts · 348d
Also Germany because of our special responsibility towards genocidal rogue states or something like that
nuko147@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 347d
Dear god, just take some sanctions like you did with Russia.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 5 pts · 347d
Russia bad, bad, bad. Israel good. Where is the problem, Citizen?
nuko147@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 347d
You have right, I'm sorry. And according to the famous actor/comedian Jerry Seinfeld, supporters of Palestine are worse than the KKK supporters.
BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 345d
You mean the same Jerry Seinfeld who was "dating" a 17-year-old high school student when he was 39? The one who was on TV a quarter of a century ago?
Because that dude can fuck himself.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 2 pts · 347d
I'm already trying to use AI to replace Jerry with Bassem Youssef's face in Seinfeld episodes.
Dremor@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 347d
There are already sanctions (violent settlers got their asset frozen, and are forbidden to fly to many countries). Problem is that they take that as a badge of honor, and they don't have enough outside assets to really be a problem to them.
mrdown@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 347d
We are asking to sanctions israel not just settler. Isrsel built thise settlements to begin with, thrn they armed the settlers than they protected them when they attack westbanker
nuko147@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 347d
Hunting the peasants instead of their bosses is on the same level as the Eurovision blockade to me.
Erasmus@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 348d
Sv443@sh.itjust.works · 17 pts · 348d
Has nothing to do with Europe or the EU. One of their broadcasters is simply in the EBU, so they're allowed to participate.
queermunist@lemmy.ml · 3 pts · 348d
I think Israel being in the European Broadcasting Union actually does have something do with Europe.
Keeponstalin@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 348d
Surely it was a spontaneous development and not at all planned to whitewash Israeli fascism to a western audience
madjo@feddit.nl · 11 pts · 348d
Israel (and most notably the Israeli company Moroccan Oil) is a big sponsor for the EBU, the organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Only countries signed up with the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) can participate, and that’s not limited to European nations.
VeganCheesecake@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 10 pts · 348d
If I remember correctly, it's a European Broadcasting Union thing, and they're in cause there used to be a British colony there.
LuigiMaoFrance@lemmy.ml · 7 pts · 348d
Israel is a European colony.
theacharnian@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 348d
zonnewin@feddit.nl · 7 pts · 348d
From what I've read, countries bordering the Mediterranean, including North-African countries, are allowed to compete, but they don't want to, mostly because they would have to broadcast the Israeli entry.
HugeNerd@lemmy.ca · 14 pts · 347d
God promised them a song contest 3000 years ago, you heathens.
mrdown@lemmy.world · 11 pts · 347d
Meanwhile
https://slguardian.org/netherlands-signs-175-million-arms-deal-with-israeli-firm-elbit
https://paxforpeace.nl/news/military-cooperation-of-the-netherlands-with-israel-is-inappropriate
boonhet@sopuli.xyz · 7 pts · 347d
Probably different decisionmakers, but also not having a unified stance on Israel is kinda showing them as weak.
svcg@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 7 pts · 347d
Can't wait for the UK, Germany, and France Song Contest. I bet France still gives us nul points. /j
m33@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 347d
Good. Good. If enough countries retire we may have a chance to win.
BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 347d
I don't know where you're from, but with a statement like that I can tell it isn't Ireland or Sweden. Those guys have had their share.
telllos@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 348d
Is this the plasic straw of diplomacy?
WhiskyTangoFoxtrot@lemmy.world · 13 pts · 348d
I guess they should just do nothing then. Why is this always the immediate response whenever anyone begins to do the right thing?
mrdown@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 347d
They need to do their obligations under international law . Stop cooperating with the terrorist state doing it's final solution
https://slguardian.org/netherlands-signs-175-million-arms-deal-with-israeli-firm-elbit
https://paxforpeace.nl/news/military-cooperation-of-the-netherlands-with-israel-is-inappropriate
Would you say the same thing if during the holocust countries has some same weak response to a compaign of extermination?
TigerAce@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 4 pts · 347d
Oh we did? Fucking nice! Many people didn't want to touch this, but I'm glad it went through anyway!
lemmyknow@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 348d
Okay, anyone got a map or list on this? Definitely curious on seeing who's still in and who's out, like that FightChatControl site