Slovenian broadcaster seeks to ban Israel from Eurovision 2025 due to Gaza War

Slovenia’s state broadcaster officially submitted a letter to the European Broadcasting Union, calling to ban Israel from the Eurovision Song Competition 2025 due to the ongoing war in Gaza against the Hamas terrorist organization.

The next Eurovision event is scheduled to be held in Basel, Switzerland in May, following the nation's victory in the 2024 competition. 

The small European country Slovenia has increasingly embraced policies that are perceived by Israel as hostile amid the ongoing conflict with Iran and its terrorist proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis.

In late May, Slovenia joined Ireland, Norway and Spain in unilaterally recognizing “Palestine” as a de facto state despite strong objections from the Israeli government. 

“The government has made a decision to recognize the State of Palestine as an independent and sovereign state within the borders from 1967, or the borders that the parties involved should agree on in a future peace agreement,” Slovenian Prime Minister Robert Golob announced. 

Jerusalem condemned this diplomatic move as a massive reward for anti-Israel terrorism and the Hamas Oct. 7 attack in 2023, where terrorists killed 1,200 Israeli men, women and children.

Furthermore, the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) stresses the need for consensual and not unilateral steps. In addition, the Palestinian Authority (PA), established under the Oslo Accords, currently lacks the formal definitions of statehood including clearly defined borders and efficient control over a specific population within this territory. 

Golob denied that Slovenia’s recognition of Palestine was a hostile act against Israel. 

“The message of recognition is not directed against anyone,” Golob claimed, “It is a message of peace. We believe that today the moment has come when we all – the whole world – must act ... in a manner that brings lasting peace in the Middle East.”

Slovenian Foreign Minister Tanja Fajon also defended the nation's decision to recognize Palestine, which was formally marked by displaying the PA's flag next to the flags of Slovenia and the European Union outside the National Parliament building in the capital Ljubljana. 

“The recognition of Palestine is the only way for the two countries and peoples to coexist in peace. The number of like-minded European countries is growing, which is a clear sign that the EU is assuming a more active role in the resolution of this conflict,” Fajon argued. 

While Slovenia officially presents itself as a neutral country concerning Middle Eastern affairs, it also announced that it will comply with the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) controversial arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged “war crimes” in Gaza.

Slovenia has also backed the International Court of Justice’s legal proceedings where Israel is accused of committing genocide in Gaza.

Israel faced intense hostility during the 2024 Eurovision contest in Sweden with anti-Israel activists demanding a boycott against Israel because of the war in Gaza.

Despite receiving death threats, Israeli singer Eden Golan secured a respectable 5th place in the competition.