Eurovision Song Contest 2026

It's been decades since I watched the Eurovision but I always found it odd when the likes of Israel and Russia and Australia etc joined. I have no idea who's in it now but I always thought "W…. uh….. isn't it the EUROvision?" I mean, technically, should the UK even be in it? I know they are one of the big 5 but…. Y'know….. The B word.

Obstensivly a boycott or removal of Isreal from Eurovision is just one of potentially many signals to the Isreali State (and their citizens) that the world at large do not want to give their actions in Gaza the sheen of normality.

More of course can be done, but if anything is possible it should be done.

Eurovision participation also has a degree of cultural «soft-power» at play. Isreal want to use the Competition to broadcast the image of their nation being a typical and equal member of the European family….while papering over their genocidal actions. Winning the competition also amplfies this, with the added bonus of hosting the competition becoming a chance to increase their profile to the rest of Europe. I remember Azerbaijan doing this on overdrive when Baku hosted the Eurovision.

Isreali participation in Eurovision for me smacks of the «Sports-Washing» we’ve seen in the Gulf States over the years. Never mind the complete lack of democracy or rights…Look! We hosted a World Cup! Look! We now own the main Golf League! Look…at these sports…and not what our state is doing.

So there is a point of banning Isreal from Eurovision and if we look back in history we have examples like the boycott of Apartheid-Era South Africa which did eventually have an impact. Eurovision is a small step, but still an important one that can help.

Yes indeed. They are going to call it '' The Genocide Song Contest ''. It will include the US, Israel and Russia and no other country. The interval will consist of photos of children missing limbs, bombed ambulances and hospitals and a parade of IDF soldiers telling everyone hot the murdered two people with one shot. You should go.

Sticktly speaking, geographically, Isreal should be a member of the AFC:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asian_Football_Confederation?wprov=sfti1

With the notable exceptions of Cyprus and Armenia, who are also technically in Asia, Isreal are notable as a figurative island of UEFA membership on the Asian mainland.

I could argue that they really should be AFC members to match their immediate neighbours…but of course that would then highlight why the Isrealis try to focus their cultural and sports links to Europe instead. Their neigbours, and many states in Asia hate them.

A very large cohort of AFC members would likely boycott them too. But I feel that is an important point. Isreal should not get to generate a fantasy where they can pretend that they are an island of Europe in the Middel East, while ignoring the humanity of the peoples around them. They have to learn to be good neighbours with all of the peoples around them regardless of race or religion and not roll in the IDF whenever they damned please. They can enjoy the dividends of peace such as sports leagues once they learn how to be peaceful.

Letting a state like Isreal pretend to be European is giving them the means of having their cake and eating it too. They should be made to understand that they are a Middle Eastern nation, and that they should try to actually get along with the part of the world they actually live in.