Eurovision Song Contest changes voting rules after controversial allegations against Israel
The new rules by the European Broadcasting Union discourage governments and third parties from "disproportionately promoting" songs to sway voters.
Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest announced on Friday changes to voting rules to avoid state interference after controversy over Israel's entry this year.
The new rules by the European Broadcasting Union discourage governments and third parties from "disproportionately promoting" songs to sway voters - and say they could otherwise face sanctions.
At this year's edition, Israel's Yuval Raphael , a survivor of the October 7, 2023, attack by Palestinian terror group Hamas, came second overall. However, some on social media raised concerns about the transparency of the voting system, which was echoed by the winner, Austrian entry JJ.
Critics said state promotion unfairly boosted Israel's entry and that individuals' multiple voting for the same contestant went against the spirit of the competition, which has been running since 1956.
Israel has not commented on those accusations, but it often alleges a global smear campaign against it since the Gaza war began after the Hamas attack. The Israeli permanent mission in Geneva did not respond to a Reuters request for comment.
