Iceland’s Eurovision Warning Shot: RÚV Backs Israel Ban – If the EBU Dares

It seems Iceland is once again ready to stir the Eurovision pot — not with a quirky synth ballad or a Viking howl this time, but with bold political intent. The country’s national broadcaster RÚV has declared it would support a ban on Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest, should the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) formally propose it.

The declaration came during a board meeting on 28 April, where RÚV’s directors made it clear that if the Israeli broadcaster is proposed for expulsion from the EBU or the contest itself, they’d recommend Iceland back it — citing “Israel’s actions in Gaza” as the rationale. It’s a move eerily reminiscent of the precedent set with Russia and Belarus, who were dropped quicker than a key change in a schlager anthem.

And let’s be clear — this isn’t a post-contest grumble. Iceland had been sounding the alarm even before the 2025 contest in Basel. Both RÚV and the Icelandic Ministry of Culture were vocal in their belief that Israel shouldn’t have competed this year. Some might call it political — Iceland calls it principle.

But Iceland’s concerns don’t end at geopolitics. Following the Eurovision 2025 final, RÚV joined broadcasters from Spain (RTVE), Belgium (VRT), Finland (Yle), Ireland (RTÉ) and the Netherlands (AVROTROS and NPO) in demanding a little transparency about the voting system. Apparently, 20 votes per viewer has raised more eyebrows than Loreen’s wind machine.

To soothe tensions, Eurovision Executive Supervisor Martin Green penned a carefully-worded open letter on 23 May, promising a thorough review of the voting data and a fresh discussion on whether 20 votes per person might be, well, overkill. He also hinted at a broader review of promotion practices by national delegations — though one suspects that won’t fix Melody’s scoreboard trauma.

Still, the headline remains: Iceland is ready to back a ban. If the EBU has the nerve to push the button, RÚV will be the first to press «confirm».

Source: Eurovoix