cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/36045128
Dutch broadcast company AVROTROS has announced that the Netherlands will boycott the 2026 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to compete. The Netherlands is the fifth country to announce a planned boycott of the event, which is scheduled to be held in Vienna.
“AVROTROS can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the ongoing and severe human suffering in Gaza,” the company said in a statement. The organization manages Dutch participation and broadcast rights for the competition as part of the Dutch public broadcasting umbrella, NPO.
AVROTROS stated that they have been in discussions with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) regarding Israel’s participation in 2026. The broadcaster added that they are also concerned about the “serious erosion of press freedom,” citing the interference by the Israeli government in last year’s edition, claiming that the event was used as a “political instrument.”
That logo looks like a porn logo
Great move, finally a bit of pride for avrotros after we got unjustly disqualified with Joost Klein for an unsubstantiated ‘threat’ to a camera woman.
Nothing was ever produced as evidence, even though the culprit was actually filming the whole thing.
But those are bygones, I’m glad the organisation took this stance.
Back in the at, we boycotted countries trading with South Africa. Public opinion is SA moved and we had freedom.
The more that agree to do this the easier it becomes for others to agree to it as well, if they wanted to in the first place. Plus it increases the pressure to do something.
I thought Eurovision apolitical
Genocide is a humanitarian issue, not a political curiosity.
