Overview

• Broadcasters in Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia say they may not participate in Vienna if Israel competes, raising the prospect of a smaller field.
• The European Broadcasting Union says it will rule in December based on broadcaster independence, a criterion it has indicated Israel’s Kan currently meets.
• Austria’s foreign minister urged counterparts not to pursue a boycott, and Germany’s culture minister warned that excluding Israel would turn the event into a tribunal.
• Greg Schneider of the Jewish Claims Conference said Holocaust survivors are shocked by calls to exclude Israel and view them as a double standard.
• Russia staged Intervision in Moscow with more than 20 countries, Vietnam’s Duc Phuc won after a show opened by a Putin video message, the planned U.S. act withdrew, and organizers announced Saudi Arabia as the next host.