Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has ignited controversy by calling for Israel to be banned from future Eurovision Song Contests, citing its military actions in Gaza as justification. At a press conference in Madrid, Sánchez proclaimed that there should not be "double standards" in cultural representation, echoing sentiments from the 2022 ban of Russia from the contest due to its invasion of Ukraine.
During the recent Eurovision event held in Switzerland, Israel's contestant, Yuval Raphael, secured second place while gathering the highest public vote, notably receiving the maximum 12 points from Spanish viewers. In response to Sánchez's remarks, Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli mockingly stated on social media that the public voting was a "slap in the face" for the Spanish Prime Minister.
Sánchez's criticisms of Israel are not new; he has previously described the nation as a "genocidal state" in light of its actions in Gaza. He reaffirmed Spain's commitment to human rights and international law, particularly highlighting the suffering of the Palestinian people during ongoing hostilities. His administration officially recognized a Palestinian state in the previous year as part of its policy stance.
The Spanish broadcaster RTVE has called for an audit of the Eurovision voting process amid the growing tension, particularly following their own airing of a supportive message for Palestinians prior to the contest, despite warnings from the European Broadcasting Union against mentioning Gaza.
Although Spain's entry in the contest, "Esa Diva" by Melody, ended up in 24th place, the ongoing discourse about Israel's presence at such cultural events has reignited international debate on human rights issues and the responsibilities of cultural platforms in responding to geopolitical conflicts.
