Open Letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)
From Independent Producers and Television Makers in Ireland
Dear Members of the European Broadcasting Union,
We, the undersigned independent producers and television professionals in Ireland, write to you with urgency and deep concern regarding Israel’s continued participation in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest.
Following your engagement and discussion with Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General of RTÉ, we are appealling directly to the EBU — as the central organising body of Eurovision — to reconsider its position. We ask you to reflect on the principles that underpin this event, and to demonstrate consistency in how those principles are upheld in the face of grave humanitarian crises.
To be absolutely clear: this is not a call rooted in opposition to any nationality, ethnicity, or religion. We condemn antisemitism and all forms of hatred. Our concern is with the actions of the Israeli state and military in Gaza, and the ethical implications of cultural participation in the context of escalating humanitarian catastrophe.
As you know, in 2022, the EBU made the principled decision to exclude Russia from the Eurovision Song Contest following its invasion of Ukraine. The rationale — that Russia’s participation would “bring the competition into disrepute” — was widely supported by member broadcasters. It was understood that Eurovision is not, and cannot be, politically neutral in the face of profound injustice and international condemnation.
Since then, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated to devastating levels. Tens of thousands of civilians, including children, have been killed. Independent human rights organisations, UN bodies, and global media have documented the destruction of entire neighbourhoods, hospitals, water systems, and basic infrastructure. Famine conditions have emerged due to the deliberate blocking of supplies into the region. Legal experts and international bodies have raised urgent alarms about possible war crimes and violations of international law.
We do not approach this matter lightly, nor do we conflate the cultural sphere with political ideology. But Eurovision is more than a song contest. It is a platform that claims to celebrate peace, unity, and cultural solidarity. Those values are not abstract; they carry meaning when they are tested. In 2022, the EBU demonstrated that meaning. The same ethical lens must be applied now.
We ask plainly: why is the standard applied to Russia not being applied to Israel, despite the scale of destruction and suffering that has since unfolded?
We respectfully implore the EBU to revisit its position. We ask you to listen — not only to official diplomatic channels, but to the voices of civil society, creative professionals, and media workers across Europe who are watching this moment with growing dismay.
We ask you to engage in honest dialogue with your member broadcasters, including RTÉ, who have expressed concern. And we ask you to uphold the moral clarity that Eurovision asserted in 2022 — that participation in this cultural event must be consistent with its foundational values.
This letter is not a rejection of Eurovision. On the contrary, it is a statement of belief in its cultural power and its symbolic importance. If Eurovision is to remain meaningful — if it is to reflect the best of European values — then those values must be applied fairly and consistently.
We urge the EBU to reconsider Israel’s participation in the 2025 Contest. We call on you to demonstrate that Eurovision, and the public service institutions that sustain it, remain guided by a conscience.
Sincerely