Spanish PM Calls for Israel's Removal from Eurovision Amid Gaza Conflict

In a controversial statement, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest following its military actions in Gaza. He argued that there should be no "double standards" in responses to international conflicts, referencing the ban on Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine. Israel, which recently secured second place in the contest, faced criticism and a formal reprimand from Spain over Sánchez's remarks.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has made headlines by requesting that Israel be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military actions in Gaza. His comments follow the recent Eurovision grand final, where Israeli artist Yuval Raphael secured second place with her song, "New Day Will Rise." Highlighting a perceived inconsistency, Sánchez pointed to Russia's ban from Eurovision since 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, emphasizing that cultural responses should be uniform.

During a press conference in Madrid, Sánchez stated, "Nobody was up in arms when the Russian invasion of Ukraine began three years ago and [Russia] had to leave international competitions and could not take part, as we have just seen, in Eurovision." He continued, "Therefore, Israel shouldn't either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture."

Sánchez also voiced support for the Palestinian people, affirming that they are enduring "the injustice of war and bombardment." His administration, which officially recognized Palestine as a state last year, has been outspoken in its criticism of Israel's actions. Notably, Sánchez previously described Israel as a "genocidal state," leading to a formal diplomatic reprimand for his remarks from the Israeli foreign ministry.

During the Eurovision voting, Spanish viewers awarded Israel the maximum 12 points for its performance, prompting the Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, Amichai Chikli, to mock Sánchez, suggesting the voting outcome was a clear "slap in the face" to the Prime Minister. In response to the controversy, Spain’s broadcast network RTVE has called for an audit of the voting process, stating concerns over the integrity of the results.

Despite the ongoing tensions, Spain's official entry in the contest, "Esa Diva" by Melody, ended in 24th place, overshadowed by the political storm surrounding the event. As the debate over cultural participation and geopolitical issues continues, the implications of Sánchez's request may resonate beyond Eurovision, potentially affecting Spain's relations with Israel and its stance in the broader international community.