Several TV companies – including those in the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland – have threatened to boycott the competition if Israel is allowed to participate, citing the war in Gaza. At the same time, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has called a meeting in November where the various European broadcasting companies will vote on the matter.
Carolina Norén, a program leader who has commented on Eurovision for many years at Sveriges Radio, calls the situation "extremely unusual".
– I have been covering it since 1999 and have definitely not experienced anything like it. I think what has happened is that it has become an unbearable situation for EBU, says Norén.
What is happening now is actually just proof that the competition is being hijacked by world politics, she continues and adds that we are seeing the downside of the competition having become so popular.
Passing on the responsibility
The idea is that Eurovision should be an apolitical competition and that it should "unite in music". It is not the first time that there is disagreement about politics in EBU. But only two countries, Belarus and most recently Russia, have been excluded before.
Norén wonders if it is even possible to be apolitical. She also thinks it is strange that EBU, with the vote, passes on the responsibility to its members and believes that many would have wished that the union made the decision.
For example, SVT has not wanted to give any answers on how they view Israel's participation. To SVT's cultural news, SVT's CEO Anne Lagercrantz replied on Saturday that they "do not take a political stance".
Free from responsibility
I think that regardless of what the decision becomes, EBU will somehow say that "now our members have had their say, now we're going ahead" and then they will be free from responsibility, says Norén.
Of course, this unifying feeling of "united by music" will not feel as credible regardless of the outcome.
There is also confusion about the fact that it is the media companies that compete, not states, which according to Norén highlights the importance of clear rules. If EBU had already referred more clearly to its rules, one might have been able to prevent the division.
This will not be the end of the competition. I do not think so. But this is the absolute worst crisis they have had, says Norén.
