Spain's PM Demands Israel's Exclusion from Eurovision Amid Gaza Conflict

The Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, urged the European Broadcasting Union to remove Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest in light of its military actions in Gaza, drawing comparisons to Russia's exclusion after its invasion of Ukraine. This call reflects Spain's ongoing criticism of Israel and its support for Palestinian rights.

The Spanish prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, has called for Israel's exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest in the wake of its military actions in Gaza. During a news conference in Madrid, Sánchez highlighted the lack of consistency in the treatment of countries participating in the contest by comparing Israel's situation to that of Russia, which has been banned since 2022 due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Sánchez emphasized that it is essential to avoid "double standards" in cultural events, as demonstrated by his remarks about Russia's removal from international competitions. He pointed out that while Israel performed well at the recent Eurovision contest, where it secured second place and topped the public vote, a rebuke was needed for its military actions against Palestinians.

In a social media response, Israeli minister for diaspora affairs, Amichai Chikli, mocked Sánchez, suggesting that his protests were rendered ineffective by the positive reception of Israel's entry from Spanish viewers. Sanchez reiterated his government's solidarity with "the people of Palestine suffering injustices" and insisted that Spain's commitment to human rights must be consistent and unwavering.

Sánchez's administration has taken a strong stance against Israeli policies, previously recognizing Palestinian statehood and referring to Israel as a "genocidal state" in recent discussions. This statement provoked a formal protest from Israel, which denied any allegations of genocide and summoned the Spanish ambassador for an official reprimand.

Additionally, Spain's broadcaster RTVE, which aired a pro-Palestinian message ahead of the contest, has requested an audit of the Eurovision votes, further complicating the fallout from the contest. Meanwhile, Spain's own Eurovision entry finished in a disappointing 24th place, showcasing the complexities of national sentiment in cultural platforms like Eurovision amidst ongoing global conflicts.