Eurovision is a music event that brings countries together. However, it faces a big problem now. The EBU, which organizes Eurovision, said Israel can join the 2026 contest. Because of this, at least four countries will not take part. The Netherlands, Spain, Ireland, and Slovenia are protesting. They are unhappy about the war in Gaza. They also don't trust the EBU anymore.
The issue started at a meeting in Geneva. Some broadcasters wanted to vote on excluding Israel. They were worried about the crisis in Gaza. This idea was not accepted. New rules about voting were agreed instead. Some people think these rules helped Israel this year. In return, members agreed not to vote on Israel's place in the contest. This decision kept Israel in the event.
Many countries reacted strongly. Broadcasters from Spain and Ireland said they would not participate. They called it a political choice. It also showed their lack of trust in the EBU. Spain is a major country in Eurovision. Its absence will hurt the contest.
Official statements show a big disagreement. Israel's President said the EBU's choice was good for music. However, Ireland's broadcaster felt it was wrong. This is because of the suffering and crisis in Gaza.
This problem affects Eurovision a lot. The EBU wants to avoid political exclusions. But this situation has harmed the contest's unity. If countries are absent, the event will be different. International conflicts are now affecting who can join. The EBU must solve these problems. It also needs to rebuild trust for Eurovision's future.