GENEVA – Organizers of the Eurovision Song Contest , the feel-good pop music gala that draws more than 100 million viewers every year, are meeting Thursday to tackle a bitter and divisive issue: Whether Israel should be allowed to participate in the 2026 competition.

The European Broadcasting Union, a group of public broadcasters from 56 countries that runs the competition, is holding a general assembly, with some countries calling for Israel to be excluded over alleged interference in contest voting and its conduct of the war against the militant Hamas group in Gaza .

Recommended Videos

Experts predict delegates won't reach a united position on the issue at EBU headquarters in Geneva and it's not clear whether a vote will be called. That would mean broadcasters may have to decid

See Full Page