❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal grand jury has indicted John Bolton on charges of mishandling classified information.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Former National Security Adviser John Bolton.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The indictment was issued on Thursday, October 16, 2025.
🎯IMPACT: Bolton could face up to 10 years in prison for each count if convicted.
IN FULL
A federal grand jury has indicted John Bolton, who served as National Security Adviser under President Donald J. Trump during his first term but became one of the America First leader’s most venomous critics after he was fired. The war hawk faces charges of mishandling classified information.
The 26-page sealed indictment includes 18 federal counts—likely pertaining to the Espionage Act—accuses Bolton of using a personal AOL e-mail account to send sensitive national security documents. The allegations state that Bolton knowingly transmitted materials related to foreign policy matters while communicating with external contacts after his tenure at the White House ended.
If found guilty, Bolton could face a sentence of up to 10 years in prison for each count of unauthorized transmission of classified material, though other charges under the Espionage Act could carry even more serious sentences.
This story is developing…
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
More From The Pulse
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A U.S. National Security Strategy document has raised concerns about European NATO members potentially becoming “majority non-European” and ceasing to be reliable allies in the future.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The strategy outlines President Donald J. Trump’s foreign policy priorities.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The 33-page document was released on December 4.
🎯IMPACT: The report raises questions about future NATO loyalty to the United States.
IN FULL
The U.S. National Security Strategy released this week argues that demographic changes within Europe could, over time, reshape the political landscape of NATO. The document warns that some allied nations are projected to become “majority non-European,” which may eventually affect how those countries view their long-standing partnerships with America. According to the strategy, this shift could raise doubts about whether future European governments will approach the alliance in the same way as the original signatories of the NATO charter.
The 33-page report places heavy emphasis on mass migration, both into the United States and Europe. It frames population movements as a strategic concern, linking long-term demographic change to questions of national cohesion and geopolitical alignment. While focused primarily on U.S. security priorities, the text highlights migration trends in Europe as one factor that could alter alliances if political identities continue to shift.
These concerns echo a series of warnings from President Donald J. Trump and his administration, who have frequently criticized Europe’s migration policies. Throughout 2025, Trump repeatedly argued that uncontrolled mass migration was reshaping the continent in ways that threatened its cultural foundations. In a July interview, he said that Europe was being killed by immigration and declared, “You’re not going to have Europe anymore,” describing the influx as a “horrible invasion.”
In November, Trump praised Hungary’s hard-line immigration approach to immigration as migrants were “flooding Europe” elsewhere and driving up crime rates. He contrasted Hungary’s policies with those of Western European governments, insisting that countries enforcing strict border controls were preserving “what Europe should be.”
Around the same time, officials in the Trump administration issued additional warnings to U.S. allies, arguing that large-scale migration posed an “existential threat to the West” and would erode shared cultural and political foundations if not addressed.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Virginia’s House Speaker has suggested redrawing Congressional maps to favor Democrats with a 10-1 advantage.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Virginia House Speaker Don Scott (D) and President Donald J. Trump.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the UVA Center for Politics.
💬KEY QUOTE: “He’s bullying folks in these states to change the rules, and we have an obligation to stand up and do something different.” – Don Scott
🎯IMPACT: The proposed maps could shift the balance of Virginia’s Congressional delegation, though given the state’s population distribution and close partisan party registration, a 10-1 congressional map is unlikely to be realized.
IN FULL
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott says he’s considering a plan to redraw the state’s Congressional maps in a way that could give Democrats a significant advantage, potentially shifting the current 6-5 delegation in favor of Republicans to a 10-1 Democratic majority.
Speaking at the UVA Center for Politics on Wednesday, December 3, Scott outlined the proposal as a response to what he described as “bullying” by President Donald J. Trump in states like Texas. “He’s bullying folks in these states to change the rules, and we have an obligation to stand up and do something different,” Scott said.
The suggestion comes amidst ongoing efforts by both major political parties to redraw state maps ahead of upcoming elections, including the midterms next year. Scott indicated that such a dramatic shift in the delegation’s composition “was not out of the realm” of possibility under the new maps.
However, given that Democrats only enjoyed a slight advantage in state-wide elections, and Virginia‘s population distribution—with a bulk of Democrat voters living in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. in the north of the state—Scott’s idea of a 10-1 map appears more of an exaggerated threat than a possible reality. Redrawing congressional lines in a manner that gives Democrats such an advantage would likely draw considerable legal challenges, as the districts would likely lack compactness, contiguity, and equal population.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The Pentagon announced on Friday that the U.S. military executed a strike on a boat suspected of transporting illegalnarcotics, resulting in four fatalities.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: U.S. Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine, and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The strike occurred on Thursday in the eastern Pacific.
🎯IMPACT: The legality of these military actions is being challenged by Congressional Democrats, some of whom have claimed they are tantamount to war crimes.
IN FULL
The Pentagon has announced another strike by the U.S. military on a vessel carrying illegal drugs, resulting in the deaths of four narco-terrorists. Notably, the operation occurred in the eastern Pacific, while most of the strikes since September have targeted cartel drug boats in the Caribbean.
On Thursday, Admiral Frank Bradley—the head of the United States Special Operations Command—and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Caine appeared before a closed-door joint meeting of the House Armed Services Committee and Senate Select Committee on Intelligence on Thursday to brief lawmakers on the recent strikes. A particular focus of the briefing was the initial September 2 strike, with Democrats and The Washington Postfalsely claiming Secretary of War Pete Hegseth authorized a so-called “double tap strike” on a group of survivors with the order to “kill everybody.”
However, Admiral Bradley told the joint committee hearing that he was the authorizing official for both the initial strike and secondary strike, and that Sec. Hegseth never gave an order to “kill everybody.” Importantly, the Special Operations Command chief provided a video showing the two cartel operatives who survived the initial strike climb onto the wreckage and begin gathering the vessel’s cargo. Bradley stated that it appeared the two survivors were attempting to contact other nearby cartel boats in an effort to salvage the drug shipment. At this juncture, the survivors were deemed to be “still in the fight” and valid targets.
Notably, secondary strikes are not against the rules of engagement, and the practice saw widespread use under the Obama-Biden government. Still, Congressional Democrats continue to insist the follow-up attack was unwarranted. “What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I’ve seen in my time in public service,” Representative Jim Himes (D-CT), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, said after the briefing. He conceded, “Yes, they were carrying drugs,” but insisted, “They were not in the position to continue their mission in any way.”
On Dec. 4, at the direction of @SecWar Pete Hegseth, Joint Task Force Southern Spear conducted a lethal kinetic strike on a vessel in international waters operated by a Designated Terrorist Organization. Intelligence confirmed that the vessel was carrying illicit narcotics and… pic.twitter.com/pqksvxM3HP
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel criticized the former Biden government’s handling of the investigation into the January 5, 2021, pipe bomb suspect, accusing the prior administration of neglecting evidence for years.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kash Patel, FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, FBI agents, and suspect Brian Cole Jr.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The investigation was revived recently, leading to an arrest in northern Virginia on Thursday. The suspect is tied to events near the U.S. Capitol on January 5-6, 2021.
💬KEY QUOTE: “This guy… planted bombs at the United States Capitol on camera. And the Federal Bureau of Investigation for the prior four years couldn’t find him. Completely unacceptable.” – Kash Patel
🎯IMPACT: The case’s revival led to the identification and arrest of a suspect, with further charges expected, highlighting significant investigative efforts by the FBI and Department of Justice (DOJ).
IN FULL
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel on Thursday criticized the former Biden government for its handling of the investigation into the pipe bombs planted near the U.S. Capitol on January 5, 2021. Patel accused the prior Democrat administration of having ignored key evidence in its possession for four years.
“We went back and looked at the cellphone tower data dumps. We went back and looked at the providers and what information they provided pursuant to search warrants at the time and asked questions such as why weren’t all the phone numbers scrubbed, why aren’t they connected, and why wasn’t there any geolocational data done?” Patel said during a television appearance late Thursday. “That is either sheer incompetence or complete intentional negligence—and neither of which is acceptable for this FBI.”
The comments came after the FBI arrestedBrian Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, for allegedly planting two pipe bombs near the Republican and Democratic National Committees’ headquarters on the evening of January 5, 2021. Patel emphasized the importance of basic law enforcement techniques, such as analyzing tips, interviews, and evidence, including the suspect’s unique Nike sneakers.
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi echoed Patel’s criticism on Friday, stating, “This case languished. It sat there for four years collecting dust. No one did anything to solve this. Both bombs were real… and thankfully they didn’t detonate.” Bondi credited Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino for reviving the investigation and keeping it confidential until an arrest was made.
Cole has been charged with the use of an explosive device, with more charges expected.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory committee voted to end the longstanding recommendation for all U.S. newborns to receive the hepatitis B vaccine on their day of birth.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), and acting CDC Director Jim O’Neill.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The vote took place Friday, following a delayed meeting earlier in the week.
🎯IMPACT: The recommendation, if adopted by the CDC, could shift vaccine policies, influence state guidelines, and impact insurance coverage.
IN FULL
A vaccine advisory panel appointed by Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has voted to recommend dropping the long-standing policy of injecting every U.S. newborn with the hepatitis B vaccine at birth. Under the new proposal, the shot would be given only to infants whose mothers are known to have hepatitis B or whose status is unknown. For all others, the choice would be left to parents and their physicians.
If parents decline the birth dose, the committee recommends starting the hepatitis B series no sooner than two months of age. Panel members contended that most newborns are at very low risk and questioned whether earlier studies adequately examined possible long-term side effects of vaccinated infants so early.
The decision came after a turbulent meeting in which the wording of the recommendation was changed repeatedly. This pushed the vote from Thursday to Friday.
Kennedy, a prominent vaccine skeptic, revamped the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) this year, removing all 17 previous members and replacing them with eight new ones dedicated to “evidence-based medicine” and “common sense.” Several of the appointees have previously voiced skepticism about vaccines.
Acting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Jim O’Neill will now decide whether to adopt the panel’s recommendation. Although ACIP guidelines are not mandatory, they heavily influence state requirements, pediatric practice, and insurance reimbursement.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: A federal grand jury rejected a U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) attempt to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia “Tish” James (D) following a judge’s dismissal of the previous case.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Letitia James, former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey, U.S. District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, and former interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Norfolk, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.; the grand jury decision occurred on Thursday.
💬KEY QUOTE: “It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop.” – Letitia James
🎯IMPACT: The rejection marks another setback for the Justice Department and is drawing allegations of two-tiered justice, as President Donald J. Trump was pursued by James on similar charges.
IN FULL
A federal grand jury rejected the U.S. Department of Justice’s (DOJ) attempt to re-indict New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) after a judge dismissed the previous mortgage fraud prosecution over a technicality pertaining to the appointment of now former interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan. Prosecutors had returned to the grand jury following Halligan’s disqualification, seeking a new indictment.
James was initially indicted in early October on charges of bank fraud and making false statements related to a 2020 home purchase in Norfolk, Virginia. Prosecutors alleged that James rented out the property after signing a document agreeing to use it as a personal residence, which allowed her to secure favorable loan terms. James has denied the allegations, calling them a politically motivated attack.
In response to the grand jury’s decision, James stated, “It is time for this unchecked weaponization of our justice system to stop.” Her attorney, Abbe Lowell—who has represented a number of Democrat clients, including Hunter Biden—added, “If they continue, undeterred by a court ruling and a grand jury’s rejection of the charges, it will be a shocking assault on the rule of law and a devastating blow to the integrity of our justice system.”
The initial case was dismissed last month by U.S. District Court Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, who ruled that Lindsey Halligan’s appointment as a U.S. Attorney was improper. At the time, Halligan was overseeing the prosecutions of both James and former Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey.
Despite the dismissal, prosecutors are reportedly planning to seek another indictment.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) allowed Texas to redraw its electoral map, adding up to five likely Republican-controlled House districts.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Supreme Court, Texas state officials, and the Democratic and Republican parties.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The decision was handed down on Thursday, impacting electoral districts in Texas.
🎯IMPACT: The ruling boosts the GOP’s chances of preserving its Congressional majority while highlighting the ongoing partisan battles over redistricting.
IN FULL
The U.S. Supreme Court has sided with Texas, permitting the state to implement a new congressional map that creates as many as five additional Republican-leaning House districts. The ruling reverses a lower-court decision that had found the map illegally dismantled majority-minority districts through racial gerrymandering.
The decision markedly improves Republicans’ odds of holding their House majority in future cycles. However, the Democrats are pursuing parallel tactics: a new California map is projected to net them multiple seats. This decision is being challenged in the courts by the California GOP and the Trump Department of Justice (DOJ), which contend that the Golden State is racially gerrymandering the new districts in favor of Democrat-leaning Hispanic voters. “Race cannot be used as a proxy to advance political interests, but that is precisely what the California General Assembly did,” the DOJ argues.
The recurring redistricting fights highlight how deeply partisan the process has become. Although some advocate for independent, nonpartisan map-drawing commissions, those reforms have struggled to gain traction. As one attorney with the American Constitution Society observed, a party that unilaterally disarmed from redistricting would be “bringing a knife to a gun fight.”
❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump will receive the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) inaugural peace prize at the soccer World Cup final draw ceremony.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Trump, FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Friday at the Kennedy Center, during the World Cup final draw ceremony.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Trump will be introduced by FIFA President Gianni Infantino as the recipient of the event’s peace prize.” – Event Program Draft
🎯IMPACT: Trump’s recognition highlights his involvement in international diplomacy and the global sporting event.
IN FULL
President Donald J. Trump is set to receive the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA)’s first-ever peace prize at the soccer World Cup final draw ceremony at the Kennedy Center. The gathering will also set the initial group-stage matchups for the 2026 tournament.
The event will involve Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, and Trump in a ceremonial ball draw. FIFA President Gianni Infantino will kick off the proceedings with opening comments before presenting the peace prize to Trump.
The two-hour show will showcase performances from Andrea Bocelli, Robbie Williams, and Nicole Scherzinger. After taking the stage to accept the award, Trump will give a speech, paving the way for the formal draw led by assistants to create the 12 groups of four teams each. The Village People, famous for their hit “YMCA,” which has become something of a Trump theme song, will wrap up the ceremony.
The news follows the finalization of the latest peace deal to be brokered by the American leader, between Congo and Rwanda, signed on Thursday at the recently renamed Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Mohammad Bashir, 31, has been charged in Britain with four terrorism offenses, including assisting an attacker with reconnaissance and sharing material online encouraging terrorism.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Mohammad Bashir, deceased terrorist Jihad Al-Shamie, and Counter Terrorism Policing North West.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Arrested at Manchester Airport, England, on November 27; charges relate to an attack on Heaton Park Synagogue on October 2.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Our prosecutors have concluded there is sufficient evidence to charge Mohammad Bashir with one offence of preparation of terrorist acts and three offences of sharing terrorist publications with Al-Shamie and others with the intent to encourage acts of terrorism.” – Chief Crown Prosecutor Frank Ferguson.
🎯IMPACT: Bashir is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court to face charges.
IN FULL
Mohammad Bashir, 31, has been charged in Britain with four terrorism offenses after being arrested at Manchester Airport on November 27, the British Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced on December 4. Police allege Bashir aided deceased Syrian migrant Jihad Al-Shamie, responsible for the deadly attack on Heaton Park Hebrew Congregation Synagogue on October 2, by helping with earlier reconnaissance of a British defence facility. The charges also include sharing material online intended to encourage acts of terrorism.
Prosecutors said the assistance Bashir is accused of providing was “not linked to the attack itself.” He was charged with one count of preparation of terrorist acts and three counts of disseminating terrorist publications. He is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The synagogue attack occurred on the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur. Al-Shamie drove a car into congregants outside the synagogue before launching a knife attack and later attempted to force entry into the building. Police shot him dead after he was found to be wearing what turned out to be a fake suicide belt. Two worshippers, Melvin Cravitz, 66, and Adrian Daulby, 53, were killed; three others were seriously injured.
During the attack, Al-Shamie reportedly phoned emergency services and pledged allegiance to the Islamic State, according to counterterrorism investigators. Police said he had not previously been known to security services. At the time of the attack, he was on bail over an alleged rape.
Bashir, who identifies as British Pakistani, remains in custody ahead of his court appearance. Authorities said the wider investigation into the synagogue attack remains ongoing and asked anyone with information to come forward.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
WE ARE 100% INDEPENDENT AND READER-FUNDED. FOR A GUARANTEED AD-FREE EXPERIENCE AND TO SUPPORT REAL NEWS, PLEASE SIGN UP HERE, TODAY.
❓WHAT HAPPENED: Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia announced they will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation.
Newsletter
Need to Know.
Your free, daily feed from The National Pulse.
Thank You!
You are now subscribed to our newsletter.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Broadcasters from Ireland (RTE), Spain (RTVE), the Netherlands (Avrotros), and Slovenia (RTV), and Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
📍WHEN & WHERE: The boycott affects the Eurovision Song Contest in 2026, with decisions announced in late 2025.
💬KEY QUOTE: “Participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.” – Irish broadcaster RTE.
🎯IMPACT: The absence of these nations raises questions about the contest’s unity and the role of politics in cultural events.
IN FULL
Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands, and Slovenia have announced they will boycott the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in protest of the decision to allow Israel to compete. The broadcasters cited concerns over Gaza and allegations of unfair voting practices as reasons for their withdrawal.
Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE, which led calls for Israel’s exclusion, said its board had already decided in September to pull out if Israel participated. “This withdrawal also means that RTVE will not broadcast the Eurovision 2026 final… nor the preliminary semi-finals,” the broadcaster said. RTVE added that its request for a secret ballot on Israel’s participation had been denied, a move it said “increases RTVE’s distrust of the festival’s organisation.”
Ireland’s RTE expressed similar views, stating, “Participation remains unconscionable given the appalling loss of lives in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis there which continues to put the lives of so many civilians at risk.”
Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS said participating under the current circumstances “is incompatible with the public values that are essential to us.”
Israel’s President Isaac Herzog has praised Eurovision’s decision to allow his country to compete, calling it “an appreciated gesture of solidarity, brotherhood, and cooperation, symbolising a victory over those who seek to silence Israel and spread hatred.” He added, “Israel deserves to be represented on every stage in the world, and I am fully and actively committed to that.”
The boycott comes amid a tense political backdrop between Europe and Israel. In May 2024, Ireland and Spain, along with Norway, officially recognized Palestine as an independent state, reflecting support for a two-state solution. Israeli officials have previously stated that European countries recognizing Palestine must accept Palestinian migrants, framing it as a reciprocal expectation.
Tensions have also escalated in the European Union (EU), which in September 2025 proposed sanctions against Israel over human rights concerns in Gaza and the West Bank. The measures included suspending certain trade concessions and targeting extremist government ministers and settler activities.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
show less
show more
By Popular Demand.
The National Pulse Now has an on-site comments section for members. Sign up today and be part of the conversation in our community of almost 15,000.
Share Story
FacebookTwitterWhatsappTruthTelegramGettrCopy Link
Real News Fan? Show It!
Many people are shocked to learn that because of active censorship, we currently have to spend more time making sure you can even see The National Pulse, than on producing the news itself. Which sucks. Because we do this for the truth, and for you.
But the regime doesn’t want you being informed. That’s why they want us to go away. And that will happen if more people don’t sign up to support our work. It’s basic supply and demand. So demand you get to read The National Pulse, unrestricted. Sign up, today.
We don’t sell ads, and refuse corporate or political cash. It all comes down to you, the reader. I hope you can help.
.jpg){kind=link}
