Austria’s Eurovision Winner Calls for Israel to Be Banned from 2026 Contest

In a display of troubling double standards and political hostility, Austria’s JJ winner of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest has publicly called for Israel to be excluded from next year’s competition, despite Israel earning the most audience votes.

“I hope the competition next year will take place in Vienna without Israel,” JJ said in an interview with Spain’s El Pais. While the Austrian artist officially won with his song “Wasted Love,” the public clearly favored Israel’s entry, “New Day Will Rise,” performed by Yuval Raphael, who dominated the televote with 297 points compared to JJ’s 178.

JJ’s remarks come amid a growing chorus of complaints from European broadcasters and politicians questioning the validity of the voting system ironically, only after Israel’s strong public showing. Countries including Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, and Ireland have demanded investigations into the voting process, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez even called for Israel to be banned.

But the Eurovision voting process, a blend of national jury and public votes, has remained consistent for decades. And according to Spotlight, the independent fact-checking division of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Israel’s promotional strategy accused of “manipulating” votes broke no contest rules. Similar campaigns were conducted by contestants from Greece, Malta, France, and others.

These attacks on Israel’s legitimacy in Eurovision reflect more than just bad sportsmanship. The rhetoric increasingly mirrors the insidious language of antisemitic conspiracies, with veiled suggestions of “vote manipulation” and undue influence. Such reactions have been notably absent when other countries win public votes but not the contest overall.

Meanwhile, Yuval Raphael responded to JJ’s comments with grace and humility. “He has incredible vocals. He worked extremely hard. I’m very proud of him. He deserves it,” she said, embodying the very spirit of unity and respect that Eurovision claims to champion.

The singling out of Israel when other nations have used similar tools and tactics reveals a disturbing pattern. It’s not just about music anymore. It’s about who is allowed to succeed.

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