Salvador Sobral, winner of the 2017 Eurovision Song Contest with ‘Amar Pelos Dois’, has voiced that Israel should not participate in the music competition and advocated for Portugal to withdraw its participation if the Middle Eastern country competes.
“Expelling Israel from Eurovision is symbolic, recognizing the State of Palestine is also symbolic, but with much force, with a flotilla going to Gaza. These are symbolic actions, obviously with different dimensions,” the singer stated during an interview.
Salvador Sobral emphasized that “it’s time for Portugal to wake up, both in government and at the public channel, which should withdraw participation if Israel is involved”. “I have no doubts,” he reiterated.
The musician, the only one to bring the Eurovision trophy to Portugal, also remarked that “when the invasion of Ukraine began, all European countries immediately sanctioned Russia, but with Israel, it’s the opposite.”
“It’s unclear why there is such impunity. Eurovision follows the same line as governments, which is a total denial of what’s happening, and then decides to allow Israel to participate. To me, it was more than obvious, just as Russia was immediately expelled from Eurovision, Israel should be expelled from the start given this latest wave of intense attacks. Since genocide is declared, it’s obvious that Israel cannot be at Eurovision singing circus songs, making no sense”, he insisted.
This is not the first time Salvador Sobral has opposed Israel’s participation in Eurovision
In May, weeks before the 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, Portuguese Salvador Sobral was among over 70 former participants who signed an open letter calling on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude the Israeli broadcaster KAN.
The signatories, including Portuguese artists António Calvário, Fernando Tordo, Lena D’Água, and Rita Reis from the former band Nonstop, justify their appeal to the EBU by considering KAN “complicit in the genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.”
The letter is published a week before Eurovision 2025, which will take place in Basel, Switzerland, on May 13, 15, and 17.
Lusa | 18:00 – 05/06/2025
What does RTP say about Israel’s participation?
So far, the Portuguese public broadcaster RTP has not made any statements regarding its position on Israel’s participation. However, rumors suggest that Portugal might soon join the calls for expulsion of the Middle Eastern country, with an announcement possibly imminent.
Currently, RTP has announced the organization of Festival da Canção 2026, with no mention of the next Eurovision edition, contrary to previous years.
The regulations for the Festival da Canção, released on Tuesday, state that the “winning song is eligible to represent RTP at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026”.
According to reports, RTP will discuss Portugal’s Eurovision participation with the EBU next week on September 25.
Notícias ao Minuto has already questioned RTP about its stance on Israel’s Eurovision participation but has received no response.
Several countries threaten to leave Eurovision if Israel participates
In recent weeks, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Spain have joined Slovenia and Iceland in urging the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to expel the Middle Eastern country due to the Gaza Strip offensive.
The Dutch state broadcaster, AVOTROS, stated that it “can no longer justify Israel’s participation in the current situation, given the severe and ongoing human suffering in Gaza.”
Ireland’s public broadcaster, RTÉ, also declared that the country “will not participate in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is involved.”
Countries like Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, and Spain have confirmed or threatened not to participate in the next Eurovision edition in Austria if Israel is not expelled due to the Gaza offensive.
Márcia Guímaro Rodrigues | 18:04 – 09/12/2025
The most recent position came from Spain, whose RTVE Board of Directors announced on Tuesday that it would boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates.
“Spain will withdraw from Eurovision if Israel remains in the competition,” wrote José Pablo López, the RTVE president, on social media.
Spain will withdraw from Eurovision if Israel continues in the competition
The decision was made on the proposal of the RTVE president, by an absolute majority of the corporation’s management body, with 10 votes in favor, 4 against, and one abstentionhttps://t.co/z1EHLNAOfP a… pic.twitter.com/ayR8JsaLgT
— José Pablo López (@Josepablo_ls) September 16, 2025
Spain’s stance gains importance as it is the first ‘Big 5’ country to announce a boycott. Among the ‘Big 5,’ besides Spain, are the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy, whose public television networks contribute the most funding to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and thus to organizing the Eurovision Song Contest.
