Austria takes steps to prevent Eurovision boycott

Austrian Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger has issued a warning against boycott plans for the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Vienna in 2026. She stated that the decision by some countries to boycott due to Israel's participation and the conflict in Gaza would not resolve the crisis.

Spain's public broadcaster RTVE announced that it would withdraw from the contest if Israel participates. With this decision, five countries, including the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland, have decided to boycott. The Belgian broadcaster VRT also announced its support for this stance.

Meinl-Reisinger emphasized that boycotts could lead to divisions among members of the European Broadcasting Union and would not improve the situation in Gaza. The Minister said, "Such a rift only deepens the disagreement and prevents important dialogue between artists and the public."

Stating that Eurovision must maintain its political neutrality, the Minister added, "Excluding Israel from Eurovision or boycotting the event does not alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and does not contribute to a sustainable political solution."

Austrian singer JJ, who won the contest this year, had also called for Israel's participation to be blocked in 2026. Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael finished the competition in second place.