Natalija Gorščak, Director General of RTVSLO, has said that the recent ceasefire in Gaza should not automatically lead to Israel being allowed to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, following the EBU’s decision to cancel next month’s vote on the matter.
“A ceasefire is not enough”
Speaking to TV Slovenija, Gorščak explained that she disagreed with the EBU’s choice to postpone the November vote, arguing that it would have been more sensible to exclude Israel this year to avoid further political complications.
“A ceasefire alone cannot be the reason for immediately agreeing that Israel should return to Eurovision. It would make more sense for the EBU to exclude Israel this year and avoid the political issues that would follow. But we’ll see, ultimately it’s their decision.”
Issue may be discussed in December
As previously reported, the EBU has decided not to hold an extraordinary vote in November. Instead, the topic of Israel’s participation could be placed on the agenda of the General Assembly in December, where member broadcasters will meet as part of the regular winter session.
Other broadcasters stand firm
Other broadcasters, including RTÉ (Ireland), RÚV (Iceland), AVROTROS (Netherlands), RTVE (Spain) and RTVSLO itself, have maintained their stance against competing if Israel remains in the line-up.
These positions remain unchanged despite the recent ceasefire agreement and the EBU’s decision to delay the vote.
Slovenia’s Eurovision Journey
In 1993, Slovenia made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest with 1X Band and the song “Tih deževen dan”, which placed 22nd. Since their debut, they have participated 28 times – of which, 16 were where they qualified for the Grand Final.
Slovenia’s recent Eurovision participation saw them being represented by Klemen, who sang “How Much Time Do We Have Left”. Performing at the first semi-final, Klemen failed to qualify, placing thirteenth with 23 points from the televote.
What do you think of Gorščak‘s words? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
Source: RTVSLO
Photo Credit: STA, Fabrice Coffrini / AFP – Collage by That Eurovision Site
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