On December 4, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), organizer of the popular Eurovision Song Contest, allowed Israel's continued participation in its next edition. The decision not to call a vote on Israel resulted in the withdrawals from the competition of Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Ireland. Irish broadcaster RTE declared that participation would have been “unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza,” while Spain’s RTVE said the contest is a “festival dominated by geopolitical interests.”
On the other hand, Israeli broadcaster KAN called the attempt to exclude the country a “cultural boycott,” while Germany would have withdrawn if Israel were excluded.
The Eurovision Song Contest is intended to be apolitical, but Europe's relations are often exposed on the Eurovision stage. Allied countries tend to vote for each other, rival countries give the cold shoulder, and some subliminal messages always seem to slip into someone's lyrics.
With the controversy surrounding Israel's participation, it's the perfect time to revisit Eurovision's most memorable (and controversial) moments over the years. Click on for the most notorious drama Eurovision has served up decade after decade.