Slovenia has formally requested the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to disqualify Israel from the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, citing the country's ongoing military actions in Gaza as grounds for exclusion.

The request, submitted by Slovenia's public broadcaster RTV SLO, has raised the stakes for Israel's participation in the annual music competition. RTV SLO has warned that they may withdraw from Eurovision entirely if their request is denied.

This move follows recent condemnation of Israel's actions by Slovenian President Natasa Pirc Musar, who compared the situation to the war in Ukraine.

Eurovision Faces Renewed Controversy

Israel's participation in Eurovision has been a source of controversy for years, with calls for boycotts from artists and protests from activists. The EBU has consistently maintained that Eurovision is a non-political event, citing Russia's exclusion in 2022 as a precedent based on breaches of membership obligations.

Privatization Threatens Israel's Participation

Adding to the uncertainty, the EBU has warned that the privatization of Israel's public broadcaster, Kan, would result in Israel's removal from the organization and its subsequent exclusion from Eurovision. This has alarmed Israeli officials, who view such exclusion as a victory for anti-Israel activists.

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest is scheduled to take place in May 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.