
Labour MEP Alex Agius Saliba, along with Slovenian MEPs Mattias Nemec and Irena Joveva, has called on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to disqualify Israel from participating in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.
In a joint letter sent on Thursday, the MEPs argued that Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, along with its human rights violations and breaches of international law, are incompatible with the EBU’s mission of promoting unity and cooperation through public broadcasting.
The letter condemns the EBU’s previous refusal to act on similar appeals, noting that this inaction sparked backlash, heightened security concerns, and led to politically charged decisions in last year’s contest—such as banning EU flags and disqualifying the Netherlands’ entry.
The MEPs warned that allowing Israel to compete despite widespread allegations of war crimes effectively politicizes the event even further and undermines the EBU’s credibility.
They drew parallels with the EBU’s swift action to suspend Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, contrasting it with the continued inclusion of Israel despite growing international condemnation.
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