Germany welcomes decision to allow Israel in Eurovision

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Icelandic Foreign Minister Katrin Gunnarsdottir, who visited Berlin, held a joint press conference after their meeting, CE Report quotes Anadolu Agency.

When asked by a journalist, “How do you view the decision to allow Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest despite some countries choosing to boycott it?”, Wadephul replied:

“We welcome the decision allowing Israel to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest.”

Wadephul continued:

“Israel has a long tradition in Eurovision, and of course this is an independent decision. But as a German, I can only welcome it, and I call on all other responsible states and organizations to seriously assess whether they should continue their participation. Culture should always have a unifying aspect, and therefore this forum should be used for that purpose and should certainly not become an arena for political disagreements—at least not beyond what is permissible. The unifying potential that such an event can offer, in my view, should be recognized.”

Iceland’s Foreign Minister Gunnarsdottir, responding to the same question, said that Iceland’s stance on Gaza, the Palestinians, and Israel is well known. She stated that they clearly support a two-state solution in the future.

Gunnarsdottir added:

“We also welcome the urgently needed cease-fire in Gaza. We want more humanitarian aid to reach the Gaza Strip. This is Iceland’s position. But I also want to speak with my country’s Minister of Culture. Some may say this is a matter for national broadcasters, but before expressing an opinion, we will definitely discuss it. This is a sensitive issue and we will examine it from all angles. But I want to note that a significant cease-fire has been achieved in Gaza. In my view, the priority is to support the people of Gaza, deliver aid, and ensure humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip. I also want to emphasize that developments in the West Bank particularly concern me.”

At the EBU General Assembly, after a decision was made to avoid voting on Israel’s participation and allow it to compete in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, the state broadcasters of Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Ireland, and Belgium chose to boycott Israel and withdrew from Eurovision.