RTÉ will not take part in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if Israel participates in the competition.
There are also doubts over whether Slovenia, Holland and Spain will take part if Israel is included.
In a statement RTÉ said “At the General Assembly of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in July, a number of EBU members raised concerns about the participation of Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.
“RTÉ wishes to thank the EBU for the extensive consultation process that was initiated on foot of that meeting, and the extension of the option to withdraw from participation without penalty to December.
“It is RTÉ’s position that Ireland will not take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if the participation of Israel goes ahead, and the final decision regarding Ireland’s participation will be made once the EBU’s decision is made.
“RTÉ feels that Ireland’s participation would be unconscionable given the ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza. RTÉ is also deeply concerned by the targeted killing of journalists in Gaza, and the denial of access to international journalists to the territory, and the plight of the remaining hostages.”
Derry songwriter Phil Coulter has backed the RTÉ decision and has called on the UK to follow suit. Coulter has written and co-written several songs for Eurovision down through the years including the UK’s winning entry "Puppet on a String" in 1967.
He said he was “one hundred percent behind RTÉ” and added that people in the UK and Ireland are both “disgusted by what’s going on in Gaza."
Speaking on BBC Radio Ulster he said: “Musicians, songwriters and performers are human beings with consciences. I think the only sensible thing and the only decent thing for RTÉ to do is to withdraw from the contest if Israel is allowed to perform.”
He added: “I think it is a question of conscience, and as RTÉ have made this step – it reflects the feeling of the general public and I’m quite sure that throughout the United Kingdom people are equally disgusted by what’s going on in Gaza.”
