Irish broadcaster requests discussion over Israel’s Eurovision participation

Ireland’s public broadcaster has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for a discussion about Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision song contest, as 72 former contestants called for the Israeli broadcaster Kan to be banned from next week’s event in the Swiss city of Basel. By asking for a discussion over Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision, Bakhurst said, he was mindful “of the need to maintain RTÉ’s objectivity in covering the war in Gaza”, as well as “severe political pressure” on Israel’s public service broadcaster Kan from the Israeli government. The EBU has previously said none of its members had publicly opposed Kan’s participation in Eurovision. A spokesperson said in a subsequent statement: “We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East. “We all aspire to keep the Eurovision song contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.”