Iceland to the EBU: “If Russia Was Shown the Door, Israel Should At Least Knock”
In a move worthy of a Nordic noir plot twist, Stefán Jón Hafstein—chair of Iceland’s public broadcaster RÚV—has publicly urged the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to suspend Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest while investigations into alleged war crimes in Gaza remain unresolved. His argument? A simple case of precedent: Russia and Belarus were ejected in 2022 for invading Ukraine, so why adjust the moral compass now?
A Moral Yardstick—or a Rubber Ruler?
Writing in the Icelandic daily Vísir, Hafstein asks the question many fans have been mumbling into their glitter: “Should a state facing credible allegations of war crimes perform at Europe’s biggest cultural jamboree?” Spoiler alert: he thinks not. He proposes three tidy options:
- Full suspension of Israel until independent inquiries deliver “unambiguous findings.”
- Neutral-flag participation for independent Israeli artists—on condition they publicly support Eurovision’s core values, human rights included.
- A permanent human-rights clause in the Eurovision rulebook, copy-and-paste from sporting bodies, so the EBU stops having to improvise every other May.
It’s Eurovision’s very own moment of truth, he says—an audition no amount of key-changes can drown out.
Russia, Belarus… Israel?
Rewind to 2022: broadcasters across Europe, Iceland among them, demanded Russia’s removal “in the name of peace and solidarity.” The EBU agreed, declaring Russian participation would “bring the competition into disrepute.” Hafstein now brandishes that statement like a well-aimed foam finger: apply the same yardstick or admit the ruler bends when convenient.
He notes the international outcry over Israel’s Gaza offensive—number-crunchers at the UN cite more than 50,000 fatalities, including 15,000 children—and contends Eurovision cannot trumpet “United by Music” while selective deafness prevails.
Not a Ban on Music—Just on Double Standards
Before accusations of cultural boycott flood the timeline, Hafstein clarifies: nobody is forbidding Israelis to write songs (heaven forbid). Nor is this about Judaism. In fact, he points to Jewish activists worldwide who also oppose Israel’s Gaza policy. The issue, he insists, is consistency. If Russia’s tanks meant curtains, Israeli missiles should trigger at least a dimmer switch.
RÚV’s Board: “We’ll Back the Motion—If It Arrives”
The proposal isn’t mere column fodder. At a 28 May board meeting, RÚV formally instructed its Director General to support any EBU vote ejecting—or freezing—Israel’s broadcaster KAN from the union or the contest. Consider it Iceland’s version of “hold my fermented shark; I’ll press the button.”
The debate will surface at the EBU’s annual assembly in London this July, where executives must weigh ratings, sponsors and, minor detail, universal human rights. Tea and shortbread may never have tasted so tense.
A Contest at the Crossroads
Eurovision thrives on outrageously high notes, not outrage-inducing headlines. Yet here we are. The EBU can either uphold its own 2022 logic or risk broadcasting a tune of moral flexibility.
Whichever way the glitter settles, one certainty remains: Eurovision 2026 already has more pre-show drama than a Grand Final voting sequence. Time to put the kettle on—Europe’s stiff upper lip may need the caffeine.
Source: Visir
