Spain Calls for Israel’s Exclusion from Eurovision – Solidarity with Palestine

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez stated today (19.05.2025) that Israel should be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest in solidarity with the Palestinian people enduring the hardship of war and bombings. On Saturday (17.05.2025), Spanish public television defied the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), to which Eurovision belongs, by broadcasting a message of support for Palestinians and Gaza just before the grand final of the contest, despite being part of the EBU. ‘We cannot have double standards when it comes to culture,’ said Sánchez, arguing that if Russia was excluded due to its invasion of Ukraine, then Israel should also not participate. Spain’s commitment to international law and human rights must remain constant, as should Europe’s, he explained, emphasizing the need for solidarity with the Palestinian people suffering from conflict and bombardments. The message broadcast by Spanish public television read, ‘When it comes to human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine,’ displayed in white letters on a black background in both Spanish and English seconds before the official start of the Eurovision contest. Sánchez further noted that demanding Russia’s exclusion from international organizations did not shock anyone, so neither should Israel’s exclusion. He stressed that there cannot be two measures or scales regarding culture. Spain, which recognized the state of Palestine alongside Ireland and Norway on May 28, 2024, has evolved into one of the most critical voices within the European Union against Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, historically supporting the Palestinian cause. In April, RTVE requested that the EBU discuss Israel’s presence at Eurovision due to concerns over the situation in Gaza. RTVE emphasized its continued support for Eurovision as a cultural event but believes the EBU should consider the sentiments of Spanish viewers and broadcasters questioning Israel’s involvement. RTVE’s head, José Pámplona López, highlighted that this request was not purely political but reflected broader societal concerns in Spain. This has sparked significant reactions, with calls for a recheck of the voting process following Spain’s controversial awarding of 12 points to Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael.