It went on to say there had been “proven interference by the Israeli government during the last edition of the Song Contest, with the event being used as a political instrument”. The statement did not elaborate on the means of “interference”.<\/p>\n
Sky News has contacted the Israeli government for comment.<\/p>\n
In early December, the EBU will hold its winter general assembly, with members due to consider the changes, and if not satisfied, vote on Israel’s participation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Key changes to next year’s competition include:<\/p>\n \u2022 Clearer rules around promotion of artists and their songs Read more: Could Eurovision boycotts over Israel lead to a competition crisis?<\/a><\/p>\n 3:59<\/p>\n Will Eurovision boycott Israel?<\/p>\n Sanctions threat<\/p>\n The EBU said the tightening of rules around promotion was to “discourage disproportionate promotion campaigns\u2026 particularly when undertaken or supported by third parties, including governments or governmental agencies”.<\/p>\n It said that “any attempts to unduly influence the results will lead to sanctions”.<\/p>\n Contest director Martin Green said “no broadcaster or artist may now directly engage with or support campaigns by third parties – including governments or their agencies – that could distort the vote”.<\/p>\n He said the reduction in the number of votes that can be made online, or via SMS or phone call, from 20 to 10 was “designed to encourage more balanced participation”.<\/p>\n He said that “although the number of votes previously allowed did not unduly influence the results of previous contests, there were concerns expressed by participating broadcasters and fans alike”.<\/p>\n Professional juries in semi-finals – and younger jurors<\/p>\n It was also announced that professional juries in the semi-finals would be restored for the first time since 2022, with an expansion to the range of professions from which jurors can be chosen.<\/p>\n The EBU said this will give roughly 50-50 percentage weight between audience and jury votes.<\/p>\n At least two jurors aged 18-25 will be present in every jury, to reflect the appeal of the contest with younger audiences.<\/p>\n Also mentioned were enhanced technical safeguards designed to “protect the contest from suspicious or coordinated voting activity” and strengthen security systems that “monitor, detect and prevent fraudulent patterns”.<\/p>\n Politics making itself heard over Europop lyrics<\/p>\n Mr Green said that the neutrality and integrity of the competition is of “paramount importance” to the EBU, its members, and audiences, adding that the event “should remain a neutral space and must not be instrumentalised”.<\/p>\n Image: A vocally apolitical event, world events have dominated Eurovision<\/a> in recent years.<\/p>\n Russia was banned from the competition in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n Israel has competed in Eurovision<\/a> for more than 50 years and won four times, but there have been ongoing calls to block their participation over the conduct of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government in the Hamas-Israel war.<\/p>\n Israel denies targeting civilians in Gaza and has said it is being unfairly demonised abroad.<\/p>\n In September, Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia threatened to withdraw their participation in Eurovision unless Israel is excluded from the competition.<\/p>\n There were also demonstrations against Israel’s inclusion in Basel, Switzerland, when the 2025 competition took place.<\/p>\n ‘Step in right direction’<\/p>\n Responding to the changes, Iceland’s official broadcaster RUV told Sky News they were “a step in the right direction”, and they would be discussing them with their “sister stations in the Nordic countries” ahead of the EBU meeting in December.<\/p>\n Ireland’s official broadcaster RTE told Sky News: “Clearly, events in the Middle East are unfolding day by day. As previously confirmed by the EBU, the issue of participation in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest has been included on the agenda of the EBU Executive Board’s ordinary Winter General Assembly.”<\/p>\n Sky News has also contacted the official broadcaster for the Netherlands (AVROTROS), Spain (RTVE), Slovenia (RTVSLO), and Israel (Kan) for comment.<\/p>\n The chief executive of Kan, Golan Yochpaz, has previously said the event should not become political and that there is “no reason” why Israel should not be part of it.<\/p>\n Image: Netanyahu praised Israeli entrant<\/p>\n Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Israel’s 2025 Eurovision entrant Yuval Raphael<\/a> she had brought the country “a lot of honour” after she finished in second place, adding “you’re the real winner. Statistically, it’s true\u2026 You entered the hearts of a huge portion of the public in Europe.”<\/p>\n The year before he told entrant Eden Golan: “I saw that you received almost the highest number of votes from the public and this is the most important thing, not from the judges but from the public, and you held Israel’s head up high in Europe.”<\/p>\n
\u2022 Cap on audience voting halved
\u2022 The return of professional juries to semi-finals
\u2022 Enhanced security safeguards<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/eurovision-katie-spencer-sky-news_7037788.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Israel's](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skynews-eden-golan-israel_7017103.jpg\")
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\n Israel’s 2024 representative, Eden Golan. Pic: AP<\/p>\n![\"Israeli](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/skynews-israel-netanyahu_7065978.jpg\")
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\n Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Pic: Reuters<\/p>\n