Debate About Israel's Participation: How Political Can the Song Contest Be?

The decision made last week that Israel may participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna 2026 led to a heated debate on Tuesday evening during the "ZIB Talk" on ORF 2. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is actually not designed to resolve such questions, emphasized ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz: "The EBU has really reached its limits here." The speed of the debate has somewhat overwhelmed everyone.

ORF Discussed Israel's Participation in the ESC

It must be clearly stated regarding the Eurovision Song Contest: "It is not the stage where world politics should be negotiated." But naturally, individual countries repeatedly try to use the competition politically. Not least for this reason, it is crucial that the individual stage entries are explicitly kept non-political: "If we were to say: The Song Contest is a political event, and every country can position itself as it wishes, we would open the door to propaganda."

Ariel Muzicant: 12 Points for the Decision

Support for the decision made on December 4 at the EBU General Assembly also came from Ariel Muzicant, Vice President of the World Jewish Congress, who awarded 12 points for it - staying within the ESC language. After all, the Israeli broadcaster Kan is independent of the Israeli government. He now hopes that the competition in May 2026 in Vienna will be a music festival: "I hope that the contest will not be politicized - even if attempts will be made."

Bernhard Flieher, culture editor of the "Salzburger Nachrichten," saw the character of the competition differently: "It is a thoroughly political event that disguises itself." At the same time, it is "anachronistic and silly" that nations compete against each other in the field of music: "Of course, I fundamentally question the Song Contest."

Palestine's Participation as a Vision for Isabel Frey

Finally, peace activist Isabel Frey also stepped in to advocate for not preventing a discussion about Israel's participation: "At least the debate must be allowed." She herself envisioned her own hope for the ESC: "My vision would be a participation of Palestine in the Song Contest."

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.