Overview

• ORF’s supervisory board dropped a planned internal vote on Israeli participation after an extraordinary meeting, a move ORF leadership welcomed as keeping the Vienna contest on track.
• The EBU scrapped a special November session and said the question of Israel’s entry will be taken up at its regular December gathering.
• EBU communications linked the pause to recent Middle East developments, with media reports noting a Gaza ceasefire tied to a first-phase U.S.-backed plan and initial hostage releases.
• Several broadcasters and governments had threatened to boycott if Israel competed, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned Germany could withdraw if Israel were excluded.
• Austria is hosting because singer JJ won in Basel, and ORF faced reports of potential penalties up to €40 million and concerns over lost tourism if the contest were canceled.