Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military actions in Gaza. He argued that, following Russia’s exclusion from the competition after it invaded Ukraine, Israel should face the same consequence to avoid “double standards in culture.” Sánchez also expressed solidarity with Palestinians, describing Israel as a “genocidal state,” a statement that led to a formal reprimand from Israel’s foreign ministry.
Despite the controversy, Israel’s entry, “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael, secured second place in the grand final and topped the public vote. Interestingly, Spanish viewers awarded Israel the maximum 12 points. In response, RTVE, Spain’s national broadcaster, has requested an audit of the voting process.
The incident underscores the intersection of politics and culture in international events. While Eurovision is traditionally a platform for artistic expression, it has increasingly become a stage for political statements, reflecting broader geopolitical tensions.
As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the European Broadcasting Union will address these calls for Israel’s exclusion and the allegations of voting irregularities.
