\u0399n an interview, the Director General of ORF, Roland Wei\u00dfmann, confirmed Austria\u2019s support for Israel\u2019s participation in Eurovision 2026.<\/p>\n
Austria is now arguably the most assured country expected to back Israel\u2019s participation at the upcoming November assembly. In recent statements, the Director General of Austria\u2019s public broadcaster emphasized that ORF firmly supports KAN\u2019s involvement in the contest, reaffirming his country\u2019s steadfast position regarding Israel\u2019s potential withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Your slogan for the Eurovision Song Contest at Vienna\u2019s Stadthalle is \u201cimpressive yet economical.\u201d However, more and more countries and broadcasters, such as the BBC, are openly threatening to boycott if Israel participates. What is your stance on the EBU\u2019s decision to allow its members to vote on Israel\u2019s participation, and will the Eurovision Song Contest take place in Vienna without Israel?<\/p>\n
As I have advocated within the EBU for months, and recently expressed again to the EBU Supervisory Board: ORF unequivocally supports the participation of the Israeli public broadcaster KAN in the Eurovision Song Contest. I stand by this position and will continue to do so, especially given Austria\u2019s history. However, the decision ultimately rests with the EBU, where all members are now called to conduct a secret ballot.<\/p>\n
Diplomatic initiatives to keep Israel in the contest.<\/p>\n
Israel\u2019s participation is not only a concern for ORF officials; recently, statements from Austrian government officials and public authorities have intensified on the matter, in an effort to prevent a possible boycott. Last week, Austria\u2019s State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Sepp (Josef) Schellhorn, called on ORF and the EBU not to succumb to pressure or blackmail to exclude Israel<\/a>. A day later, the country\u2019s Foreign Minister, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, sent a letter to her counterparts in Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, Ireland, and Belgium<\/a>, making a personal appeal to change their stance, warning of possible rifts and divisions among European states.<\/p>\n Austria\u2019s position highlights the divergence of opinions among European countries, foreshadowing a potentially unpredictable November assembly, where the final decision on Israel\u2019s participation in the contest is expected to be made.<\/p>\n