Eurovision Song Contest
ESC 2026 “without Israel”? – ORF and EBU react to JJ
Winner JJ sparks a debate about Israel’s participation in the next Eurovision Song Contest. He wants the event to take place without Israel. The singer now relativizes that.
ESC winner JJ (24) from Austria with his demand for Israel’s exclusion at the next Eurovision Song Contest will not be supported by the organizers. “JJ’s statements give his private opinion again,” said an ORF spokesman. For the broadcaster, the focus was on music and artistic performances at the ESC.
The European Radio Union (EBU) as the organizer also had clear guidelines that separated the policy of entertainment, according to ORF in Vienna.
For her part, the EBU explained that it was its role to organize a song contest that pays attention to cohesion, diversity and inclusion. EBU is an association of public service broadcasters and not state bodies.
“These are entitled to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest every year if they meet the required requirements,” said an EBU position.
When asked by the Austrian news agency APA, the singer relativized his statements via his record company Warner: “I am sorry if my words have been misunderstood. Although I criticize the Israeli government, I condemn any form of violence against civilians all over the world – be it against Israelis or Palestinians. I will not comment on this topic.”
According to a newspaper report, JJ had expressed the wish that the ESC 2026 would take place in Vienna – and without Israel. “It is very disappointing that Israel still takes part in the competition,” the Spanish newspaper “El País” quoted 24-year-old Johannes Pietsch.
Israel’s participation in the ESC is repeatedly criticized. The background is the war against the terrorist organization Hamas, which Israel leads in the Palestinian Gaza Strip. After the unprecedented massacre by Palestinian terrorists in Israel, this began in October 2023.
Israel ended up in Basel in Basel last weekend with singer Yuval Raphael (24) and the song “New Day Will Rise” in the ESC final; In the audience voting, the singer even reached first place. Only the points of the dozens of specialist juries from European countries gave Austria and JJ (“Wasted Love”) victory.
dpa
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
