The Austrian winner of the 2025 song competition has expressed a desire to see Israel excluded from next year's contest in Vienna. JJ, Austria's Eurovision champion, described it as "disappointing" that Israel continues to take part in the event.
"I hope Eurovision will be held in Vienna next year, and without Israel. However, the decision lies with the EBU. As artists, we can only voice our opinions on the issue," the 24-year-old singer told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.
JJ, whose real name is Johannes Pietsch, won the prestigious title with his pop-operatic ballad "Wasted Love." In a tense final round of voting, he faced off against Israel's Yuval Raphael, who secured second place with a significant number of public votes.
Israel's involvement in the competition has faced significant criticism over the past month due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also weighed in, advocating for Israel's exclusion based on the precedent set when Russia was barred from the competition following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
"Nobody raised concerns when Russia invaded Ukraine three years ago, leading to its removal from international competitions, including Eurovision," Sánchez stated at a news conference in Madrid. "Thus, Israel should face the same consequences, as we cannot permit double standards in cultural matters."
Controversy Over Voting System
Spanish public broadcaster Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) has called for an audit of the voting system to confirm that no external influences affected the results from participating countries. During the contest, Israel received the maximum score of 12 points from Spain. Other broadcasters, including Ireland's RTÉ, Belgium's VRT, and Finland's Yle Entertainment, have also raised concerns. In an interview with El PaÃs, JJ acknowledged the need for "greater transparency regarding televoting."
"This year was quite unusual," remarked the classically trained opera singer. He echoed the sentiments of last year's winner, Switzerland's Nemo, who has consistently advocated for Israel's exclusion. "Eurovision particularly needs to revise its voting system and the criteria for participation," JJ stated in an interview with El Pais.
Israeli contestant Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack during the Nova music festival in 2023, has not yet responded to JJ's comments. Meanwhile, the 24-year-old singer expressed her gratitude to the Israeli people for their support during the contest and for her second-place finish.
"We did it!" Rafael posted on her Instagram account. "I'm still trying to process this incredible experience. It might take me some time, but I just have to say that I've never felt so empowered!" Her song, "New Day Will Rise," garnered votes from 34 out of the 38 countries that participated in the phone voting. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest, has emphasized the importance of political neutrality in the competition. In a statement to Euronews, the contest's director, Martin Green, remarked, "We fully respect JJ’s right to express their personal views and acknowledge the concerns and strong opinions surrounding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East."
