Imagine a global music extravaganza overshadowed by political tensions—where enthusiastic fans shower applause on a performer, but impartial judges turn a cold shoulder. That's the gripping reality of Eurovision today, and it's sparking heated debates worldwide! But here's where it gets controversial: are these boycotts truly about music, or are they fueling a deeper divide? Let's dive into the details to uncover why some countries are walking away and what it means for Israel's scores over the years.
Following the announcement that Israel will indeed participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, four nations have made the bold move to pull out: Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Ireland. To better understand the potential impact, we've examined how their withdrawal might have shifted the leaderboard if it had happened this year. Picture this as a thought experiment—let's explore the voting patterns from recent contests to see how these countries have treated Israel's entries. For newcomers to Eurovision, it's worth noting that the competition blends two voting systems: professional juries, who score based on musical quality and performance, and public viewers, who vote via televoting to reflect popular sentiment. This dual approach often highlights interesting contrasts, as we'll see.
Take Israel's representative in the latest event in Basel, Yuval Raphael. His performance of 'New Day Will Rise' earned just 60 points from the juries across all participating countries—a modest tally that might surprise fans expecting more. Breaking it down, Ireland's judges awarded Israel a solid 7 points, while the Dutch juries gave 5. Slovenia and Spain, however, contributed nothing at all from their expert panels.
But here's the part most people miss: the audience at home had a very different reaction! Viewers poured in 297 points for Raphael, propelling him to a strong second-place finish overall. And get this—two of the withdrawing countries, the Netherlands and Spain, had their crowds absolutely enamored with the Israeli tune, handing out perfect 12 points each. Irish viewers also showed their support with 10 points, and even Slovenians, though more reserved, gave 6. It's a clear reminder that while juries might lean toward neutrality or other influences, the public vote can be a powerful equalizer in these contests.
To put it in perspective, in 2025, Israel racked up a total of 52 points from these four nations set to boycott: a mere 12 from their juries (averaging about 3 per country) versus a whopping 40 from viewers (averaging 10 per country). This disparity underscores the split between 'official' assessments and grassroots enthusiasm.
As a side note, not all countries were generous—Poland and Armenia gave Israel's song zero points from both juries and viewers, despite neither expressing plans to withdraw. Meanwhile, Austria's winning act, performed by JJ, benefited handsomely from these same four nations: Slovenia chipped in 20 points (10 from each side), Ireland added 16 (12 jury, 4 viewer), the Netherlands contributed 15 (12 jury, 3 viewer), and Spain offered 11 (7 jury, 4 viewer). Even if all those votes were erased, JJ would have shed only 62 points—not nearly enough to dethrone him. This illustrates how Eurovision's scoring system, with points from dozens of countries, ensures no single bloc can dominate.
Fast-forwarding to 2024, right after the war escalated, Israel's Eden Golan captivated audiences with her entry. The same four withdrawing countries awarded points again, but with a twist: all came exclusively from public votes. The Netherlands and Spain each bestowed 12 points from their viewers, despite zero from juries. Ireland and Slovenia's crowds gave 10 each, again with juries contributing nothing. In total, that added up to 44 viewer points for Israel, helping Golan secure fifth place with 375 points overall—323 from viewers and just 52 from juries. It's fascinating how juries, often portrayed as music experts free from bias, sometimes appear more reserved, while everyday fans express unfiltered support.
What about the era before the conflict intensified? In 2023, Noa Kirel soared to third place with 362 points, trailing Sweden and Finland. She balanced 177 jury points with 185 from viewers. Interestingly, Armenia—now a low-scorer for Israel, possibly due to regional tensions like the Armenia-Azerbaijan dispute and Israel's arms dealings with Azerbaijan—awarded a full 24 points back then. Azerbaijan also gave 24, showing how geopolitics can shift alliances. The boycotting nations? Spain provided 15 points (8 jury, 7 viewer), the Netherlands 8 (2 jury, 6 viewer), Ireland another 8 (7 jury, 1 viewer), and Slovenia nothing at all.
Diving further back, in 2022, Israel missed the final. In 2021, Eden Alene's song garnered 4 points from the Netherlands, 3 from Spain, and 1 from Slovenia, finishing 17th. Ireland, along with several others, gave zero.
In 2019, when Tel Aviv hosted the event—pre-pandemic and with live crowds—Kobi Marimi collected only 35 points, none from the future boycotters.
And in 2018, Netta Barzilai's victory was a landslide, amassing 212 jury points and 317 viewer points. Spain adored her, awarding 22 points total. The Netherlands scored 15 (5 jury, 10 viewer), Ireland 13 (7 jury, 6 viewer), but Slovenia bucked the trend with just 1 from its jury.
Overall, the voting history reveals strong audience sympathy for Israel in at least three of these four departing countries. Their exit wouldn't drastically alter outcomes, with over 30 nations still eager to compete alongside Israel in this celebrated event. The real victims? The fans in Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, and the Netherlands, deprived of the chance to enjoy Eurovision's dazzling spectacle—a high-stakes show that captivates millions, especially in Europe.
But here's where it gets controversial: Is this boycott a principled stand against geopolitics, or does it unfairly penalize artists and fans caught in the crossfire? Some argue it's a necessary protest, while others see it as politicizing a celebration of music. And this is the part most people miss: By focusing on withdrawals, are we ignoring how viewer votes consistently back Israel, suggesting broader cultural connections? What do you think—should politics stay out of song contests, or is this a valid form of expression? Share your thoughts in the comments below: agree with the boycotts, disagree, or offer your own take on how Eurovision should navigate such divides. Let's keep the conversation going!
