Spain‘s Culture Minister Suggests Israel‘s Exclusion from Future Eurovision Song Contest
Madrid - Spain’s Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, indicated on May 29, 2024, that Israel may not participate in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, following Spain’s recent recognition of the State of Palestine alongside Ireland and Norway.Urtasun’s statement reflects a growing strain in relations between Spain’s current government and Israeli Prime Minister benjamin Netanyahu’s administration.
The potential exclusion stems from concerns over Israel’s actions in gaza and a broader debate regarding the contest’s neutrality. Spain has increasingly positioned itself as a critical voice within the European Union regarding the israeli-Palestinian conflict, demonstrated by recent actions challenging the Eurovision association and expressing support for pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
During the recent Eurovision competition, spanish public television, RTVE, publicly challenged the event’s organizers, threatening to halt broadcasts unless references to the offensive in Gaza were addressed. RTVE ultimately broadcast a message before the competition’s start stating, “Regarding human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine.”
This stance follows Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s expressed “admiration” for pro-Palestinian demonstrations that disrupted the Vuelta a España cycling race, leading to the shortening of the event after protesters invaded the route in Madrid.
