Ireland’s Head of Delegation is not in favour of banning Israel from participating in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, but is “happy to go along” with the decision of the EBU.

Michael Kealy is the first Head of Delegation to go on record to oppose sanctions on Israel’s public service broadcaster, KAN.

Speaking exclusively to The Euro Trip about the matter, Kealy said: “This is not a competition between governments – this is a competition between public service broadcasters.

“The public service broadcaster in Israel is an independent broadcasting organisation like RTÉ. It’s independent of the government – it’s not a mouthpiece for Netanyahu.

“Ultimately, it’s not something I would be in favour of necessarily, but it’s not something for me to call.

“Whatever the EBU decides to do, I’m happy to go along with that.”

There have been mounting calls for the EBU to kick Israel out of this year’s contest because of the country’s involvement in an armed conflict with Hamas-led militant groups in Palestine.

In December, The Icelandic Society of Authors & Composers called on the country’s participating broadcaster, RÚV, to withdraw from Eurovision.

Earlier this month, more than 1,400 Finnish music industry professionals signed a petition urging Israel to be banned from the contest, and for Finland’s broadcaster, Yle, to withdraw if this didn’t happen.

Jesse Markin, one of the seven participants in Finland’s selection show, has said he will refuse to take part in Eurovision should he win UMK next month.

Proponents of a ban on Israel’s participation have drawn similarities to the exclusion of Russia from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The EBU’s latest stance on Israel’s involvement mirrors what it calls an “inclusive attitude towards Israeli participants in major competitions” and that KAN “complies with all competition rules”.

“There are a lot of calls for us to withdraw from Eurovision because Israel is in it,” Kealy added.

“That would set a very dangerous precedent if we do that in RTÉ because we’re not a political organisation, we’re a public service broadcaster. I’m not in favour of it.”

During the first of four shows in Norway’s Melodi Grand Prix national selection show, a pro-Palestinian protester interrupted the broadcast holding a Palestinian flag and wearing a t-shirt scribed with “boycott Israel”.

“Sorry for the interruption. There is a war going on, and we can do more. Norway can do more,” they said before the cameras cut away and the sound was muted.

Ireland holds its national selection during a special broadcast of The Late Late Show on January 26.

Asked if RTÉ has taken extra precautions in case of a similar interruption, Kealy said: “Anytime you do live television, there is the possibility something like that might happen.

It’s just one of the hazards you’re aware of, you’re prepared for and you can deal with it quite quickly if it does occur.

“You can’t screen your audience for their political views. We can only try to mitigate the damage for the viewer at home.”