RTÉ has no plans to pull out from the Eurovision Song Contest, Director General Kevin Bakhurst. This news comes after the Irish national broadcaster requested a discussion with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the contest, over Israel’s participation despite the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

In a statement released on Wednesday, May 7, Director General Kevin Bakhurst said that he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”.

He then requested a discussion over Israel’s inclusion, saying that he was mindful “of the need to maintain RTÉ’s objectivity in covering the war in Gaza”, as well as “severe political pressure” that the Israeli government exercises over Israel’s public service broadcaster Kan.

However, only one day after this statement, Bakhurst spoke to reporters at Leinster House, stating that while RTÉ asked for a broader discussion with EBU, it is not considering pulling out of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

“I don’t want to undermine the Israeli public service broadcaster,” he added, mentioning the Israeli government’s significant pressure again.

Oireachtas Media Committee chair Alan Kelly also spoke to reporters, saying: “I think it’s very difficult to withdraw as well, to be fair.

“I believe that all cultural events internationally, indeed all sports events internationally, we need to treat Israel in the way in which they deserve to be treated.

“They can’t be accepted as participating and being part of the norm, because the way in which they are behaving, obviously as far as I’m concerned, is absolutely disgraceful.

“There was one rule in relation to how they (the EBU) treated Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, and I think Israel should be treated the same in relation to the Eurovision.

“I think the decision of Mr Bakhurst in relation to this was the right one, if maybe it’s obviously all coming a little bit late, given the proximity to the event.”

Israel has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973. Last year, widespread protests took place in Ireland and abroad when the EBU announced that Israel would be allowed to participate in the competition despite its ongoing war on Gaza.

 

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One such protest will also take place on Friday, May 9, outside the RTÉ Studios gates. Organised by the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign, participants will stage a mini-concert calling for Ireland to boycott Eurovision 2025.

Earlier this week, 72 musicians, lyricists and performers associated with Eurovision – including Ireland’s Charlie McGettigan – shared a letter addressed to the EBU, alleging that Israel’s broadcaster Kan was “complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people”.

In a separate document, they cited several instances of Kan journalists allegedly endorsing military action or boasting about the destruction of Gaza. The signatories said Kan’s inclusion would “allow music to be used as a tool to whitewash crimes against humanity” and would show a double standard compared to how the EBU treated Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

In the 20 months since Israel launched its escalated military offensive in response to the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, over 52,000 have been killed in Gaza.