José Pablo López, president of RTVE, has once again made Spain’s position clear regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision and has responded to the words of the general director of Austrian television, who would have tried this Tuesday to convince the rest of the countries not to withdraw from the contest.
In a press conference held this Tuesday, Roland Weissman, director general of the ORF, sided with Israel by ensuring that they wanted to be “hosts for everyone” in this year’s edition: “It’s 70 years, there is something to celebrate.” Weissman called for the participation of “as many stations as possible”, in addition to announcing that Bulgaria, Romania and Moldova would return to the contest after being absent last year.
This is where José Pablo López comes in, who has made everything clear in a brief tweet in which he has denied the information that stated that the host television had tried to convince Spain not to withdraw from the contest if Israel participates: “They have not called here,” he declared.
“The President of the Austrian TV ORF has met with the President of Israel so that the politicization of the contest is clear,” continued the president of RTVE. This refers to the meeting Weissman had with Isaac Herzog earlier this month in Jerusalem. López continues with a dart at the EBU: «This was not a festival in which not countries but televisions participated? That’s what the EBU said,” he asks. “Without complexes,” he concludes.
In this way, Spain strengthens its position regarding Israel’s participation and makes it clear that it will withdraw from the contest if the KAN finally forms part of the competition. This issue will be decided at the beginning of December during the EBU General Assembly.
They haven’t called here. The President of the Austrian TV ORF has met with the President of Israel so that the politicization of the contest is clear.
Wasn’t this a festival in which not countries but televisions participated? That’s what EBU said.
Without complexes. https://t.co/jdHobozEAS
— José Pablo López (@Josepablo_ls) November 19, 2025
