The Spanish Prime Minister called for Israel to be banned from the Eurovision song contest over military action in Gaza.
Pedro Sanchez said Russia has been banned from contests since 2022 after the Ukraine invasion and there should not be a “double standard.”
Israel came in second in the grand final of the contest held in Switzerland on Saturday, but has passed the official vote. Spanish viewers gave Israel up to 12 points.
Israeli Minister of Diaspora Issues Amichai Chikuri ridiculed Sanchez in a social media post. This was the vote “slap in the face” by the Spanish Prime Minister, and he said “heard it in Jerusalem.”
BBC News has requested Eurovision organizers to comment from the European Broadcasting Association (EBU).
At a press conference in Madrid, Sanchez said: [Russia] We had to leave the international competition and, as we just saw, we were unable to participate in Eurovision.
“So Israel shouldn’t do that either, either, because it’s the double standard of culture that we can’t allow.”
He also expressed solidarity with “Palestinians who are experiencing the injustice of war and artillery fire.”
“Spain’s commitment to international law and human rights must be constant and consistent,” he said. “The same should be true in Europe.”
Sanchez and his government, who officially recognized the Palestinian state last year, are harsh critics of Israel, and in parliament the prime minister called the country a “genocide state.”
Israel has vehemently denied the genocide accusations, and its foreign ministry has summoned the Spanish ambassador for official responsibilities for Sanchez’s “serious remarks.”
In Eurovision, Spanish TV Tea received the award for the nation’s biggest points ascended by Eurrafael, the song’s New Day. Spanish broadcasting network RTVE has since requested a vote audit.
Ahead of Saturday’s Eurovision Final, RTVE aired a message in support of the Palestinians – being warned to avoid mention of Gaza by the EBU.
Melody’s Spanish entry, ESA Diva, finished 24th in Basel on Saturday night.
