Spanish Prime Minister Calls for Israel's Ban from Eurovision Amid Gaza Conflict

Tone & Political Bias: Moderately Left-Leaning

Why: The article highlights Spain's criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza and draws parallels with Russia's previous ban from Eurovision, reflecting a perspective that emphasizes human rights and international law.

BonDuke, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Spain's Stance on Israel's Eurovision Participation

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has urged Israel's exclusion from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military operations in Gaza. He referenced Russia's ban from the contest in 2022 following its invasion of Ukraine, stating that cultural events should not have "double standards."

"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," Sánchez said during a news conference in Madrid. "Therefore, Israel shouldn't either, because what we cannot allow is double standards in culture."

Israel's Performance and Public Reaction

Despite the controversy, Israel's entry, "New Day Will Rise" by Yuval Raphael, secured second place in the Eurovision grand final held in Switzerland. The song topped the public vote, with Spanish viewers awarding it the maximum 12 points. In response to Sánchez's comments, Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, mocked the Spanish Prime Minister on social media, suggesting the vote was a "slap in the face" for him.

Spain's Internal Actions and Criticism of Israel

Spain's national broadcaster, RTVE, has requested an audit of the televoting results after the unexpected high points awarded to Israel. Prior to the Eurovision final, RTVE aired a message supporting Palestinians, despite warnings from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to avoid references to Gaza.

Sánchez's government has been openly critical of Israel, officially recognizing a Palestinian state last year. Recently, Sánchez referred to Israel as a "genocidal state" in Congress, prompting Israel's foreign ministry to summon the Spanish ambassador for a formal reprimand.

Broader Implications and Calls for Consistency

Sánchez emphasized the need for consistent application of international law and human rights across Europe. "Spain's commitment to international law and human rights must be constant and must be coherent," he stated. "Europe's should be too." The European Broadcasting Union has yet to comment on Sánchez's call for Israel's ban from future Eurovision contests.