AhlulBayt News Agency: Austrian singer JJ, winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, has called for Israel to be excluded from the 2026 competition, citing its ongoing war in Gaza.
In an interview with El País, the Spanish newspaper published on Thursday, JJ—whose real name is Johannes Pietsch—expressed disappointment over Israel’s continued participation. He stated, “It is very disappointing to see Israel still participating in the contest. I would like next year's Eurovision to take place in Vienna without Israel.”
However, he acknowledged that the final decision rests with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), saying, “The ball is in the court of the organizer, the EBU. We, the artists, can only express our views on the subject.”
Israel’s participation in the 2025 contest has been controversial due to its ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in over 61,700 deaths, mostly women and children. Pro-Palestinian activists have criticized the EBU for allowing Israel to compete.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez echoed these concerns, stating, “What we cannot allow is double standards in culture.”
JJ also voiced surprise over Israel’s inclusion in the contest, saying, “This year, everything happened in a very strange way.” The Austrian public broadcaster ORF distanced itself from his remarks, labeling them as his personal opinion.
Additionally, JJ criticized the Eurovision voting system, calling for greater transparency. His Israeli counterpart, Yuval Raphael, won the public televote but finished second overall after JJ secured the jury vote. The disparity between jury and public votes has raised concerns about the fairness of the process.
The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, held in Malmö, Sweden, was also marked by controversy over Israel’s participation. On May 9, 2024, approximately 5,000 pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Malmö Arena, leading to clashes with Swedish police. Among those detained was climate activist Greta Thunberg, who had joined the protest in solidarity with Palestinians.
Inside the arena, Israeli contestant Eden Golan faced a mixed reception. During rehearsals, she was met with boos, and her performance was overshadowed by chants of “Free Palestine.” Despite these challenges, Golan qualified for the final, where she finished second in the televote and fifth overall.
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