Bulgaria Wins Eurovision Amid Protests Against Israel

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Bulgaria has won the 70th Eurovision song contest in Vienna, Austria, with singer Dara's party anthem "Bangaranga," beating out 24 other competitors. This was Bulgaria's first-ever victory at Eurovision. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland boycotted the contest because of Israel's genocidal campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza; Israel's singer came in second place.

Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 02:32 PM | 12 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez posted a video message denouncing Israel's participation in this year's Eurovision contest "in the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option:" Spanish PM Pedro Sanchez is a good human being

More and more people in Europe are urging sporting and cultural organizations to eject Israel, a Middle Eastern Rogue state conducting never-ending ethnic cleansing and war, from participating in European contests and games, the same way Russia has been ejected for its brutal war against the Ukrainians.

This year five young performers from Spain, the Netherlands, Slovenia, Iceland, and Ireland lost their opportunity to compete in Eurovision, thanks to Israel. There will be more such principled sacrifices from young performers and athletes if this Pariah nation is allowed to compete in future musical or athletic contests.

#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-17 05:16 AM | Reply

#2 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-17 06:43 AM | Reply

Again, WTF is Israel doing in a Euro competition in the first place?

#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-05-17 10:56 AM | Reply

"WTF is Israel doing in a Euro competition in the first place?"

Israel competes in Eurovision because the contest is organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), not the European Union or any geographical body. Participation is open to any active member broadcaster in good standing within the European Broadcasting Area.

This is why Amerenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijian are also in Eurovision, even though they are geographically Asian. In the past, Morrocco and Australia have also participated in it.

#4 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-05-17 11:22 AM | Reply

Again, WTF is Israel doing in a Euro competition in the first place?
#3 | Posted by LegallyYourDead

It reflects the historical reality that Israel was founded by European Colonists, and is Culturally Western.

#5 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-05-17 11:23 AM | Reply | Newsworthy 2

"Amerenia"

*Armenia

#6 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-05-17 12:22 PM | Reply

Again, WTF is Israel doing in a Euro competition in the first place?

They're a bunch of European colonialists.

The fit in better with Europeans than they do with the Arabs they're surrounded by.

#7 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-17 02:16 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

Israel ~~competes~~ cheats in Eurovision

www.bbc.com

www.nytimes.com

www.vanityfair.com

#8 | Posted by ClownShack at 2026-05-17 02:21 PM | Reply | Newsworthy 1

"AIPAC Shakur" here.

Thanks for the info on Israel's cheating efforts at Eurovision.

I'm not surprised to read about that.

Since ICC-indicted war criminal Benjamin Netanyahu seized power in Israel, his security forces have targeted Palestinian athletes with unspeakable violence by maiming them to prevent them from ever having a national team at any event.

That's 25 years.

The world sees no Palestinians at any sporting events, therefore there must be no State of Palestine.

Source: What America's "Ally" is Doing to Muslim Athletes

#9 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-05-17 02:40 PM | Reply

... After years on the political fringes, support for making the war-torn Palestinian enclave into a Jewish community is gaining support across Israel. ...

#10 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 02:54 PM | Reply

... and ...

Some hide their crosses': Jerusalem nun attack highlights Israel's growing anti-Christian problem
www.france24.com

... When a foreign nun was the victim of violent physical assault in Jerusalem last month, local activists and clergy say they were shocked but not surprised. In the past few years, anti-Christian incidents have surged in Israel " illustrating how a small minority of insular and mainly ultra-religious nationalist or ultra-Orthodox Jews are becoming increasingly emboldened to act out their anger and hate. ...

#11 | Posted by LampLighter at 2026-05-17 02:55 PM | Reply

"Israel competes cheats in Eurovision"

"Soft power and marketing is the same is cheating" is the exact same premise that Russia has been using to 'justify' their supposed victimhood and behavior related to it.

#12 | Posted by sentinel at 2026-05-17 03:20 PM | Reply