Arya News - Iceland became the fifth nation not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year because of Israel`s participation in the event.
Dec. 10 (UPI) -- Iceland on Wednesday became the fifth nation not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year because of Israel"s participation in the event, joining Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands.
Last week , Israel"s national broadcaster was cleared to compete in Vienna, Austria, in May. The European Broadcasting Union, the contest"s organizing body, declined to expel Israel over its conduct in the war against Hamas in Gaza.
After the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation voted not to participate, RUV said in a news release : "It is clear from the public debate in this country and the reaction to the EBU"s decision made last week that there will be neither joy nor peace regarding RÚV"s participation in Eurovision. It is therefore RÚV"s decision to inform the EBU today that RÚV will not participate in Eurovision next year."
The Icelandic broadcaster said the participation "caused discord, both among the member stations of the European Broadcasting Union, EBU, and among the public."
KAN"s participation was discussed at EBU meetings last summer in London this summer and in Geneva last week.
"At the meeting in Geneva, a large majority of EBU member stations agreed that various changes that have been made to the rules and the implementation of the contest were satisfactory, and therefore there was no vote on KAN"s participation in the contest," the news release said.
Last year, 37 nations appeared in this year"s contest in Basel, Switzerland, won in May by Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, of Austria.
"The Song Contest and Eurovision have always had the goal of uniting the Icelandic people, but it is now clear that that goal will not be achieved and this decision is made on those programmatic grounds," Iceland"s broadcaster said.
Also Wednesday, Poland confirmed it would participate in the contest.
"We are aware of the scale of tension surrounding the upcoming edition. We understand the emotions and concerns," Poland"s broadcaster said. "However, we believe that Eurovision still has a chance to once again become a space filled with music. And only music. We, like the overwhelming majority of EBU members, offer this opportunity."
Germany and Austria have also confirmed they will be taking part.
RTE, Ireland"s broadcaster, said participation was "unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there."
Spain"s culture minister, Ernest Urtasun, supported the boycott by RTVE, saying: "You can"t whitewash Israel given the genocide in Gaza. Culture should be on the side of peace and justice."