According to the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot, Israeli broadcaster IBA has decided not to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest's 50th anniversary extravaganza, due to financial reasons.
Israel, winner of 3 Eurovision Song Contests (1978, 1979 and 1998) and host country of two contests in the past, will probably be absent from the contest's jubilee celebration which will take place in Denmark, in October 2005. This decision was taken recently by the IBA, since the fee the broadcaster was asked to donate for the occasion, 70.000 euros, was impossible for the national broadcaster, which is nowadays facing crucial financial difficulties and wide criticism for its way of management.
Lack of funds is also the reason why IBA's head of delegation will not participate at the EBU meeting this month which deals with the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in Kiev and the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in which Israel still doesn't particpate either.
