In light of the EBU’s decision to convene an extraordinary General Assembly this November to decide Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, has issued a strong response. The move comes after an impasse at the EBU Executive Board, where members were unable to reach agreement on whether Israel should remain in the contest.
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KAN’s statement emphasizes its hope that Eurovision continues to be governed as a cultural, non-political event. Central to KAN’s contention is the procedural threshold required by the EBU statutes. The broadcaster states that extraordinary decisions – such as revoking Israel’s participation – must secure a 75% majority vote in the General Assembly, underscoring the gravity and rarity of what’s being proposed. KAN expresses confidence that the EBU will maintain the contest’s professional, cultural, and non-political character.
Update: The EBU has confirmed to The Times of Israel that a simple majority (>50%) at the extraordinary assembly is needed to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2026.
Statement from Israeli broadcaster KAN
Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, expresses its firm hope that the Eurovision Song Contest will continue to uphold its cultural and non-political identity.
The potential disqualification of Israel’s public broadcaster KAN – one of the contest’s long-standing, popular, and successful participants – would be especially troubling ahead of the 70th edition of the song contest, which was founded as a symbol of unity, solidarity, and fellowship. Any such move could have wide-ranging implications for the competition and the values for which the EBU stands.
The EBU Statutes stipulate for a good reason that extraordinary decisions of this kind require a 75% majority of the General Assembly – an exceptional majority. We are confident that the EBU will safeguard the contest’s professional, cultural, and non-political character as it marks the historic 70 years milstone of uniting by music.
Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest Israel 2018: Netta – “Toy”
Israel has participated in Eurovision 47 times since their debut in 1973. They have won the contest four times:
Israel 2018: Netta – “Toy”
Israel has never finished last in the contest! Since the introduction of the Semi-finals in 2004, Israel has qualified for the Grand Final 14 out of 21 times.