European Broadcasting Union POLITICAL

Target: European Broadcasting Union (EBU) Evidence reviewed through: 23 October 2026 Research scope: Institutional political conduct, communications, broadcasting governance, Israel–Palestine-related participation decisions, organisational affiliations and leadership.

Corporate Communications & Public Stance

Official public posture

In April 2024, the EBU defended its decision to permit Israeli public broadcaster KAN to participate in Eurovision, stating that eligibility decisions were the responsibility of Eurovision’s governing bodies rather than individual performers; it also condemned online abuse directed at participating artists.¹

In December 2025, EBU members approved changes to Eurovision voting rules without holding a separate vote on Israel’s participation, allowing KAN to remain eligible for the 2026 contest.²

The EBU’s 2025–2026 annual report identifies public service journalism, broadcasting cooperation, innovation and support for member organisations as institutional activities, with Delphine Ernotte Cunci serving as President and Noel Curran as Director General.³

Comparative geopolitical treatment

Following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the EBU excluded Russia from Eurovision; in contrast, KAN remained eligible during the 2024, 2025 and 2026 contests despite requests from broadcasters and politicians for comparable exclusion.⁴

In March 2024, the EBU accepted Israel’s revised Eurovision entry, “Hurricane”, after the earlier proposed song, “October Rain”, was found incompatible with the contest’s political-neutrality rules.⁴

In September 2025, RTVE’s board voted to withdraw Spain from Eurovision 2026 if Israel remained eligible, following unsuccessful efforts to obtain a wider discussion of the matter within the EBU.⁵

On 4 December 2025, RTVE reported that the EBU General Assembly had approved revised contest rules while declining a separate vote on Israel’s participation; RTVE then announced its withdrawal.⁶

The December 2025 decision was followed by the withdrawal of Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands from Eurovision 2026, with Iceland also announcing withdrawal later that month.⁷

Market and institutional framing

In the EBU’s 2025–2026 annual report, Eurovision is presented alongside Eurovision News Exchange, sporting events, technology initiatives and other services delivered to public service broadcasters.³

During the 2025 participation controversy, the institutional dispute centred on the distinction between broadcaster eligibility, government involvement and the contest’s political neutrality.²

On 7 November 2024, EBU Director General Noel Curran publicly opposed proposed Israeli legislation that would place public broadcaster KAN’s budget under direct government control. Curran warned that permitting the government to alter or cancel budget allocations would threaten KAN’s editorial and financial independence and could enable greater political interference. The EBU called for the proposal to be abandoned. These statements were independently reported by OGAE Greece on 8 November 2024 and documented by the Public Media Alliance on 13 November 2024.^{8, 9}

On 27 May 2025, the EBU issued a formal statement calling on the Israeli government to permit unrestricted access to Gaza for foreign journalists. EBU Director of News Liz Corbin criticised restrictions preventing international news teams from reporting independently and emphasised the importance of supporting Palestinian journalists working under dangerous conditions. This institutional position was subsequently reinforced when Corbin appeared as an EBU signatory to a June 2025 international appeal coordinated by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders, demanding independent international media access to Gaza and protection for Palestinian journalists. The June appeal corroborates the EBU’s advocacy position, although it does not independently establish the precise publication date of the May statement.^{10, 11}

On 30 April 2026, the EBU organised a Conference on the Future of Journalism in Gaza in Geneva ahead of World Press Freedom Day. The event brought together broadcasting representatives, journalists, humanitarian organisations, press-freedom advocates and other media professionals to discuss journalist safety, independent reporting and rebuilding Gaza’s media capacity. The North American Broadcasters Association independently listed the conference for 30 April 2026, while UNESCO identified the EBU as organiser in its World Press Freedom Day 2026 events directory. The event therefore constitutes documented institutional engagement with Palestinian journalism and press freedom during the Gaza conflict.^{12, 13}

In May 2026, EBU Director General Noel Curran sent an official letter to Israeli Knesset Finance Committee chairman Hanoch Milwidsky opposing legislation that would remove KAN’s legally guaranteed budget and subject its financing to government decisions. Curran warned that financial dependence on the government would undermine independent reporting, weaken public confidence and potentially damage Israel’s international democratic reputation. Reporting linked the warning to possible consequences for Israel’s participation in Eurovision and other international broadcasting activities. However, contemporary reporting explicitly distinguished these potential consequences from a formal EBU threat of suspension or expulsion; the letter itself did not announce Eurovision sanctions.^{14, 15, 16}

Operations in Occupied or Contested Territories

Territorial presence

The EBU’s documented Israel-related relationship in the reviewed evidence is KAN’s participation as a public-service-broadcaster member in Eurovision; the available evidence concerns broadcasting membership and cultural participation rather than a documented EBU commercial operation in occupied Palestinian territory.²

No public evidence identified of EBU-owned premises, settlement broadcasting facilities, equipment sales, service contracts, dealerships or physical infrastructure operated by the EBU in Israeli settlements.

Legal and regulatory scrutiny

In May 2026, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe adopted Resolution 2657, concerning journalism in the context of the Israel–Gaza conflict; this resolution addresses the conflict and conditions facing journalists rather than a finding of wrongdoing against the EBU.¹⁷

No public evidence identified of an EBU listing in the UN OHCHR settlement-business database or a settlement-related sanction imposed directly on the organisation.

Civil-society and boycott campaigns

In September 2025, Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS announced that participation in Eurovision 2026 would be impossible while Israel remained eligible, citing civilian suffering in Gaza, restrictions on independent journalism and alleged Israeli governmental interference in the competition.¹⁸

In September 2025, RTVE formally adopted a conditional withdrawal position; in December, it confirmed that Spain would not participate in or broadcast Eurovision 2026.^{5, 6}

In April 2026, more than 1,000 artists, including Massive Attack, Kneecap, Brian Eno and Sigur Rós, were reported to have supported a campaign organised with No Music For Genocide and the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, calling on the EBU to exclude KAN.¹⁹

The 2026 contest subsequently proceeded with Israeli participation despite boycotts by five broadcasters.²⁰

In September 2026, Ireland announced a further boycott of Eurovision 2027, citing continuing civilian suffering in Gaza and restrictions on journalists.²¹

Internal Governance, Content & Retail Policies

Employee relations

No public evidence identified of EBU employee dismissals, internal disciplinary cases, employment litigation or union proceedings specifically concerning pro-Palestinian speech.

Platform and editorial policy

In April 2024, the EBU condemned targeted social-media campaigns against Eurovision performers and defended the distinction between political debate and harassment of participating artists.¹

During Eurovision 2024, controversy arose around Palestinian political expression, including criticism of the EBU’s response to Palestinian symbolism used by performer Eric Saade.²²

The original Israeli Eurovision entry for 2024, “October Rain”, was rejected on political-neutrality grounds, after which revised lyrics were accepted under the title “Hurricane”.⁴

In May 2025, broadcaster representatives questioned Eurovision’s voting arrangements after the Israeli entry performed strongly in public voting; reporting also identified Israeli government and embassy social-media appeals encouraging viewers to cast the maximum permitted votes.²³

In June 2025, Eurovision Director Martin Green acknowledged concerns about voting transparency and promotional campaigns; reporting identified Once Germany GmbH as a voting-services provider and EY as an independent verifier.²⁴

Ahead of the 2026 contest, voting reforms reduced the number of permitted votes per viewer from 20 to 10 and introduced additional measures addressing organised promotional activity and potential voting manipulation.²⁵

In May 2026, the EBU issued a formal warning to KAN after promotional videos encouraged viewers to cast ten votes for the Israeli representative, Noam Bettan; reporting stated that KAN complied with the request to remove the material.²⁶

The formal warning concerned prohibited promotional messaging; the cited evidence does not establish fraudulent alteration of the vote count.²⁶

No public evidence identified of an EBU-operated social-media recommendation algorithm selectively suppressing Palestinian news or commentary.

Retail and supply-chain policies

No public evidence identified of EBU product-origin labelling, Israeli-settlement merchandise sourcing, retail categorisation of Palestinian goods or related consumer-protection proceedings.

Brand Heritage & State Partnerships

Marketing positioning

The EBU’s 2025–2026 annual report describes an organisation supporting public service media, Eurovision programming, news exchange, innovation, research and collaborative broadcasting.³

No public evidence identified of the EBU promoting a military heritage, Israeli defence-sector origins or state-security associations in its institutional branding.

Institutional ties and cultural programmes

KAN’s participation in Eurovision constitutes a documented institutional connection between the EBU’s contest governance and Israel’s public broadcasting system.²

In March 2024, Israeli President Isaac Herzog publicly urged changes to Israel’s proposed Eurovision song so that the country could participate; KAN subsequently submitted revised lyrics that the EBU accepted.⁴

In December 2025, Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed continued Israeli participation following the EBU General Assembly decision.²⁷

In August 2026, the EBU announced a revised approach to Eurovision hosting when a winning country is affected by war, including the possibility of an independent security assessment and assignment of hosting responsibilities elsewhere.²⁸

No public evidence identified of EBU sponsorship of Israeli settlement organisations, military commemorations, government advocacy initiatives specifically promoting settlement policy or settlement-related cultural events.

Lobbying, Advocacy, Financing & Logistics

Political lobbying and institutional advocacy

The EBU’s most directly documented Israel–Palestine-related governance activity concerns determining broadcaster eligibility, responding to member objections and changing Eurovision rules.²

On 4 December 2025, RTVE stated that it and seven other broadcasters had requested a secret vote on Israeli participation but that the EBU presidency declined a specific vote on this question.⁶

The December 2025 General Assembly instead approved the proposed rule changes and allowed the contest to proceed with KAN eligible to compete.²

RTVE President José Pablo López subsequently characterised the handling of Israeli participation as a major source of internal disagreement within Eurovision’s governing institutions.²⁷

In September 2026, the Netherlands’ return to Eurovision 2027 was arranged through NPO despite AVROTROS maintaining its opposition to participation; Eurovision Director Martin Green welcomed the arrangement.²⁹

No public evidence identified of EBU-funded Israel-specific political action committees, disclosed payments to pro-Israel lobbying organisations or documented anti-BDS lobbying expenditure.

Financial contributions

No public evidence identified of EBU corporate donations to the Israel Defense Forces, Friends of the Israel Defense Forces, Jewish National Fund/KKL, settlement organisations, Israeli military-welfare charities or reservist-support organisations.

No public evidence identified of EBU equity investment in an Israeli defence manufacturer, military contractor or surveillance enterprise.

Crisis asset mobilisation

No public evidence identified of EBU equipment, vehicles, logistics, cloud services, broadcast infrastructure or other corporate resources being supplied directly to Israeli military operations.

The EBU’s annual report documents extensive broadcaster collaboration and news-exchange activities, but those institutional functions do not by themselves establish military support.³

Constructive-notice chronology

The decisions permitting Israeli participation in Eurovision 2025 and 2026 occurred after the International Court of Justice advisory opinion of 19 July 2024 and the International Criminal Court’s November 2024 arrest warrants.^{2, 23}

During 2026, the EBU continued administering Eurovision with KAN participating and separately enforced contest promotion rules against KAN’s voting campaign.²⁶

No public evidence identified of a direct EBU financial or logistical contribution to Israeli military or settlement operations continuing after those international legal developments.

Corporate Structure & Primary Mission

Foundational mandate and organisation

The European Broadcasting Union is organised around cooperation among public service broadcasters, with the organisation’s 2025–2026 annual report describing services in news, sport, entertainment, technology, research and professional development.³

The annual report identifies Delphine Ernotte Cunci as President and Noel Curran as Director General.³

The EBU’s December 2025 Eurovision decision was taken through member deliberations at its General Assembly, demonstrating the role of member broadcasters in contest governance.²

State influence and governance

Public broadcasters operating in different national regulatory systems participate in EBU activities; the 2025 controversy involved differing positions taken by member broadcasters regarding Israeli participation.^{2, 18}

RTVE’s December 2025 statement identifies the EBU presidency and General Assembly as institutional actors involved in the disputed participation process.⁶

No public evidence identified of an Israeli state-held golden share, controlling equity interest or unilateral appointment power over the EBU.

No public evidence identified that the EBU’s foundational mandate explicitly includes advancing Israeli territorial, military or settlement objectives.

Executive & Leadership Footprint

Identified leadership

The EBU’s 2025–2026 annual report identifies Delphine Ernotte Cunci as President and Noel Curran as Director General.³

During the December 2025 Eurovision General Assembly controversy, EBU President Delphine Ernotte Cunci publicly supported the institutional reform process and emphasised transparency and trust in the contest.²

Eurovision Director Martin Green addressed concerns about the integrity of Eurovision voting in 2025 and oversaw enforcement of promotional rules during the 2026 contest.^{24, 26}

Public advocacy and statements

In September 2025, RTVE President José Pablo López supported withdrawing Spain from Eurovision if Israel remained eligible; the broadcaster’s board approved that position by majority vote.⁵

In December 2025, López criticised the Eurovision participation decision, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed Israel’s continued eligibility.²⁷

In August 2026, AVROTROS Director-General Taco Zimmerman criticised Eurovision’s continued political divisions and announced opposition to participation in 2027.³⁰

In September 2026, RTVE’s president reiterated his opposition to Israeli participation and supported continuing Spain’s boycott.³¹

In September 2026, Martin Green publicly welcomed NPO’s arrangement for Dutch participation in Eurovision 2027.²⁹

These broadcaster executives’ statements document positions taken within the EBU membership network; they do not automatically constitute statements by the EBU’s own executive leadership.^{29, 31}

Personal philanthropy and financing

No public evidence identified of direct donations by Delphine Ernotte Cunci, Noel Curran or Martin Green to the IDF, FIDF, JNF/KKL, Israeli settlement organisations or Israeli military-welfare bodies.

No public evidence identified of relevant personal family-foundation grants, defence-sector equity investments or Israeli reservist-fund contributions by these individuals.

Board memberships and affiliations

No public evidence identified of EBU leadership holding board positions in AIPAC, CFI, FIDF, Regavim, Im Tirtzu or comparable organisations specifically linked to Israeli military or settlement advocacy.

No public evidence identified of EBU executive sponsorship of settlement events or participation in Israeli military fundraising events.