A new investigative report by The New York Times claims that the Israeli government has systematically used public funds since 2018 to sway Eurovision results and enhance its international image. The campaign allegedly started discreetly after Netta Barzilai’s victory, with over $100,000 allocated that year to promote Israeli artists.
“In some countries, just a few hundred votes could secure a win in the televote, making it more susceptible to government-led campaigns than organizers have acknowledged,” the U.S. newspaper stated, noting that the funds originated from the “hasbara” office of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
For the 2024 edition alone, Israel invested at least $1 million in marketing and social media advertisements to secure public support. The Times detailed coordinated mass campaigns on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, urging users to cast the maximum allowed votes (up to 20 per person in previous years).
This revelation has intensified the institutional crisis within Eurovision, prompting countries including Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia to announce a boycott of the 2026 contest due to Israel’s politicization of the event. In response, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has tightened voting rules by reducing the vote limit per user to mitigate government influence.
“You have too many ‘ifs’ in those claims. I don’t recognize the figures they’re working with. What we do know is that we have one of the most secure, protected, and fair voting systems. It’s a public voting system,” said Eurovision director Martin Green.