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Most people in Germany support Israel’s inclusion in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), sports competitions and other international events, a new poll showed on Thursday.
Some 65% of respondents said Israeli artists and athletes should not be penalized for the actions of the Israeli government, German public broadcaster ARD’s poll found.
In contrast, 24% of those surveyed support excluding Israel from international events to pressure its government.
The polling institute Infratest dimap conducted the survey with 1,306 participants aged 18 and over by phone and online from September 29 to October 1.
Activists staged street protests in 2024 and 2025 against Israel’s participation in the ESC due to the Gaza war.
More recently, several countries have said they will only participate in the 2026 contest if Israel is excluded.
The next ESC is scheduled to take place in Vienna next year.
The Gaza war began with an unprecedented attack by Palestinian Islamist Hamas and other extremist groups on the Israeli border area. But Israel’s overwhelming response and extent of death and destruction in Gaza means it is growing increasingly isolated.
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