This is The Guardian.

I think it's definitely the biggest crisis in Eurovision's history.

It's definitely a watershed.

It's no way as a crisis.

We've got 35 members or so going to join us next year. Now, I understand

the four or five who might not come. That's their choice. I completely respect that.

We don't want to participate in the Eurovision song contest if Israel is competing as well.

Is Eurovision over? Is it existential? I don't know.

Eurovision is supposed to be about unity through music.

But as Israel gets the green light to take part next year,

the contest is facing its biggest political boycott yet.

From The Guardians today in Focus,

this is the latest with me, Lucy Hoff.

I'm joined by Philip Alterman, who's the Guardian's European Culture Editor.

Philip, you've been covering and writing about this for us.

What's happened and what are the four countries that have pulled out?

So yesterday there was a big meeting, a general assembly of the

union of broadcasters who organised Eurovision. That was meeting within Geneva. And some countries had

pushed for a vote to be held on whether Israel can take part next year because of the war in

Gaza. That vote wasn't held. And in reaction to that non-vote,

four countries have announced that they will boycott the event. They won't be broadcasting it

and they won't be taking part. Those countries are Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia.

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