The Spanish Prime Minister has voiced his support for Palestinian rights and criticized the discrepancy in treatment given to Russia compared to Israel in international competitions, specifically pointing to Eurovision.
Spanish PM Urges Israel's Ban from Eurovision Amid Gaza Conflict
Spanish PM Urges Israel's Ban from Eurovision Amid Gaza Conflict
Spain's Pedro Sánchez calls for Israel to be excluded from Eurovision following its military actions in Gaza, emphasizing the need for consistent standards.
In a bold move, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has demanded that Israel be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its recent military actions in Gaza, citing the need for equality in international standards. During a news conference in Madrid, Sánchez emphasized the lack of outcry when Russia was barred from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine, arguing that Israel should face a similar fate to avoid "double standards" in cultural events.
This year's Eurovision saw Israel's participant, Yuval Raphael, placing second and receiving the maximum 12 points from Spanish viewers, a fact that did not sit well with Sanchez. The Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, Amichai Chikli, responded mockingly to Sánchez's comments via social media, suggesting that the voting results were a "slap in the face" to the Prime Minister.
Pedro Sánchez has been an outspoken critic of Israel, stating his solidarity with "the people of Palestine who are experiencing the injustice of war and bombardment." Last year, his administration officially recognized a Palestinian state and has not hesitated to describe Israel's actions as genocidal, a claim that has been met with strong denials from the Israeli government.
In response to the Prime Minister's comments, the Israeli foreign ministry summoned the Spanish ambassador for a formal reprimand, underlining the tension between the two nations. The situation surrounding the Eurovision contest has also sparked conversation within Spain, where the national broadcaster, RTVE, awarded Israel top points in a public vote, later requesting an audit of the voting process.
On the broadcasting side, RTVE had aired a message in support of Palestinians prior to the Eurovision final, despite warnings from the European Broadcasting Union to refrain from mentioning Gaza. Meanwhile, Spain's entry to the contest ranked 24th, highlighting the competitive nature of the event.
As the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict continues to evoke strong reactions globally, Sánchez's call for an Israel ban raises questions about the intersection of culture and political sentiments in international forums like Eurovision.
