NYT Exposes Israel Government Eurovision Promotion Campaign
The investigation says Israel spent more than $1 million on Eurovision promotion and used diplomatic outreach and coordinated messaging to sway voters.
- The New York Times investigation revealed Israel orchestrated a 'well-organised campaign' to use the Eurovision Song Contest as a 'soft power' tool, spending at least $1 million to 'burnish the country's flagging reputation and rally international support.'
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's hasbara office allocated $800,000 in 2024 toward 'vote promotion,' with Netanyahu encouraging supporters to vote 20 times for past entrant Yuval Raphael across Europe.
- Eurovision director Martin Green warned that campaigns encouraging voters to cast maximum ballots violate competition spirit, as broadcasters capped viewer votes at 10 for the 2026 competition.
- Spain called for a debate over Israel's participation at a London broadcaster meeting, pushing for voting system changes after broadcasters demanded a 'full vote analysis' following the previous contest.
- As the competition begins tomorrow, Israel's participation faces pressure from Music For Genocide, whose open letter signed by over 1,100 artists calls for a boycott due to Middle East realities.
39 Articles
39 Articles
Eurovision Is Facing a Major Controversy Over Israel’s Advertising Efforts
As the semifinals get underway, a new investigation returns to the controversial 2025 finals—and reveals exactly how far Israeli diplomats allegedly went in an effort to keep the country in the contest.
A survey of the New York Times explains how the country governed by Benjamin Netanyahu exploited the European song competition as an instrument of propaganda and international consensus, causing controversy, boycotts and tensions within the competition
The New York Times recounted the aggressive campaigns funded to mobilize thousands of votes, which convinced EBU to change the rules
More than EUR 1 million has been invested, since 2018 at least, in advertising on social networks, with the participation of 2025 to be coordinated by a government agency.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 55% of the sources lean Left
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