Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez is pushing for Israel to be banned from participating in the Eurovision Song Contest due to the ongoing military actions in Gaza. This call comes on the heels of Israel's recent second-place finish at the competition in Switzerland, which has been a topic of heated discussion.
Sánchez pointed out that Russia has been barred from Eurovision since 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine, arguing that maintaining consistency is essential to uphold international standards. Speaking about his stance, he noted, "What we cannot allow is double standards in culture,” highlighting that similar actions should lead to similar consequences.
Despite Israel's accomplishments in the contest, where it topped the public vote and garnered maximum points from Spanish viewers for the song “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael, Sánchez has faced criticism for his remarks. Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, responded with a sarcastic social media post claiming that the voting serves as a “slap in the face” to Sánchez, emphasizing the irony of Spain awarding maximum points while the Prime Minister called for Israel's exclusion.
Sánchez has a history of expressing solidarity with the Palestinian people, condemning the actions of Israel as a “genocidal state,” a label that has drawn ire from Israeli officials. The Spanish government has maintained a critical viewpoint towards Israel's military actions in Gaza. Following Sánchez’s comments, Israel's foreign ministry summoned the Spanish ambassador to deliver a formal protest.
The discussion surrounding Sánchez’s request and its implications continues as tensions surrounding the Israel-Gaza conflict persist. Meanwhile, Spain’s own entry, “Esa Diva” by Melody, finished in a disappointing 24th place, contrasting with the national excitement over Israel’s performance. Airlines are now calling for an audit of the voting process in light of the situation.
