STORY: :: Basel, Switzerland / May 18, 2025

A possible "watershed moment" for Eurovision on Thursday.

Members of the body that organizes the song contest may vote on whether Israel can compete next year.

Public broadcasters from Slovenia, Ireland, Spain and the Netherlands have called for Israel's exclusion over its actions in Gaza and threatened to boycott Eurovision if it doesn't happen.

Jose Pablo Lopez, president of Spain's RTVE, said its position over Israel hadn't changed. 

"Firstly because of the genocide it has perpetrated in Gaza. As President of the (RTVE) corporation, I keep thinking that Eurovision is a contest, but human rights are not a contest." 

On Thursday, European Broadcasting Union members will first discuss new rules designed to prevent governments and third parties from influencing voters.

That's after controversy this year over Israel's second-place win. 

Critics accused Israel of unfairly boosting its entrant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Israel's foreign ministry did not respond to Reuters request for comment. It frequently argues it has faced a global smear campaign.

If members aren't convinced the new rules are enough, there'll be a vote on participation, the EBU said, without naming Israel specifically.

This is Eurovision expert Paul Jordan.

"I think it probably has to go to a vote because you've got a lot of countries that threatened to withdraw if Israel takes part. You've also got other countries that are rumored to be withdrawing if Israel is forced out. And it will be the first time really we've got a serious political issue that's really affected many participating countries."

A boycott by some of the competition's biggest European backers, including Spain, risks a major drop in audience numbers and potential sponsorship.

The televised contest is watched by about 150 million viewers every year and is meant to be non-political.

But Jan Vehar, a member of Slovenia's Eurovision fan club, pointed to a 2021 exclusion of Belarus and Russia's exclusion after its invasion of Ukraine.

"And I think there should be rules for everyone. And there should be, if that was the case for Russia and Belarus, I think that should be the case for Israel as well."

:: Courtesy of 'The Rising Star' Keshet 12

Sources within Israeli broadcaster KAN said it was complying with EBU rules and the discussion about excluding Israel was unjustified.