Amid ongoing violence in Gaza, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged for Israel's removal from the Eurovision Song Contest, citing the need for consistency in international standards.**
Spanish PM Demands Israel Eurovision Ban Amid Gaza Conflict**
Spanish PM Demands Israel Eurovision Ban Amid Gaza Conflict**
Pedro Sánchez's call for an Israel ban echoes past exclusion of Russia from the music competition over geopolitical tensions.**
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is calling for Israel to be banned from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, referencing its military actions in Gaza. He pointed out that Russia has been excluded from the event since 2022 due to its aggression against Ukraine, emphasizing that there should be no “double standards” when it comes to cultural participation in light of international conflicts.
Israel secured second place at the recent Eurovision event held in Switzerland. Despite this, they received the highest public vote, with Spanish viewers awarding Israel the full 12 points. The Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, took to social media to mock Sánchez’s demand, claiming that the favorable votes for Israel served as a metaphorical slap in the face to the Spanish leader.
During a news conference in Madrid, Sánchez criticized the treatment of nations in international platforms and expressed his solidarity with the Palestinian people amid ongoing violence. He stated, “Spain’s commitment to international law and human rights must be constant and must be coherent,” reinforcing that Europe should align with these values.
Sánchez’s government has been notably critical of Israel and, in a recent congressional meeting, he referred to Israel as a "genocidal state." This has led to tensions, as the Israeli foreign ministry summoned the Spanish ambassador in response to these accusations. At Eurovision, while Spain's votes favored Israel generously, Spanish broadcaster RTVE has requested a review of the voting results amidst accusations of bias.
The backdrop of Sánchez’s comments aligns with Eurovision's efforts to navigate political sentiments, particularly after RTVE aired a message supporting Palestinians—despite warnings from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to refrain from political statements. Meanwhile, Spain’s own entry at the contest, "Esa Diva" by Melody, ended up in 24th place, overshadowed by the controversial discourse surrounding the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict and its effects on cultural expressions.
