Netherlands ready to join Eurovision boycott over Israel

The Dutch public broadcaster, Avrotros, has confirmed the Netherlands may even boycott subsequent yr’s Eurovision tune contest if Israel is concerned.It follows Irish broadcaster RTÉ saying it is not going to participate if Israel does “given the continued and appalling lack of lives in Gaza”.Eurovision will happen subsequent in Could 2026 in Vienna after Austrian singer JJ gained this yr following a nail-biting end that noticed him topple Israel from pole place on the final minute.In a press release which echoed RTÉ’s, Avrotros stated it too may not justify Israel’s inclusion “given the continued and extreme human struggling in Gaza” and the “critical erosion of press freedom”.It continued: “Human struggling, the suppression of press freedom and political interference are at odds with the values of public broadcasting.”The Dutch broadcaster went on to quote the Israeli ban on worldwide media from coming into war-torn Gaza, in addition to the “many casualties amongst journalists”.On Friday, Irish musician and songwriter Phil Coulter known as on the UK to withdraw from Eurovision 2026 if Israel participates. The BBC – the UK’s Eurovision broadcaster – has to date declined to remark.Mr Coulter stated he was “100% behind RTÉ” of their determination to withdraw from the competition, and that folks within the UK and Eire are each “disgusted by what is going on on in Gaza”.Coulter has written or co-written a number of songs for Eurovision, together with the UK’s 1967 successful tune, Puppet on a String, which singer Jade Thirlwall sampled final yr.RTÉ stated it’s going to make a last determination as soon as the Eurovision organiser, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), has performed so.Earlier this yr, greater than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the 2025 competitors.