Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE has asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to open a debate on whether Israel should take part in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest due to its role in the Gaza war.
In a statement on Friday, RTVE said it had written to the EBU, which organises the contest, to raise the issue of Israel’s participation through its public broadcaster KAN, reported news agency AFP.
The EBU responded by saying it appreciated the “deeply held views” surrounding the Middle East conflict but added that all its member broadcasters remain eligible to compete. It said it was in ongoing discussions with all participating broadcasters, including RTVE.
Eurovision is one of the world’s most-watched television events, involving countries from Europe to Australia. This year’s contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland, with the semi-finals scheduled for May 13 and 15, and the final on May 17. If KAN is excluded, Israel will not have a contestant at this year’s event.
Thousands had protested Israel’s participation in last year’s contest in Sweden. This year, Israel will be represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival, according to The Times of Israel.
Petitions in other countries, including Finland, have also called for Israel’s removal from the contest. One was signed by over 10,000 members of the public.
Israel has won Eurovision four times, most recently in 2018.
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants carried out an attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, where local authorities report nearly 51,000 deaths.
Spain's Eurovision stance and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently visiting China as US imposed new tariffs on European Union goods are its two recent moves at odds with US. Washington has also been escalating trade tensions with China with a whopping 145 percent tariff. China retaliated with 125 percent tariffs on American goods.
In a statement on Friday, RTVE said it had written to the EBU, which organises the contest, to raise the issue of Israel’s participation through its public broadcaster KAN, reported news agency AFP.
The EBU responded by saying it appreciated the “deeply held views” surrounding the Middle East conflict but added that all its member broadcasters remain eligible to compete. It said it was in ongoing discussions with all participating broadcasters, including RTVE.
Eurovision is one of the world’s most-watched television events, involving countries from Europe to Australia. This year’s contest will be held in Basel, Switzerland, with the semi-finals scheduled for May 13 and 15, and the final on May 17. If KAN is excluded, Israel will not have a contestant at this year’s event.
Thousands had protested Israel’s participation in last year’s contest in Sweden. This year, Israel will be represented by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas-led attack on the Nova music festival, according to The Times of Israel.
Petitions in other countries, including Finland, have also called for Israel’s removal from the contest. One was signed by over 10,000 members of the public.
Israel has won Eurovision four times, most recently in 2018.
The Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas militants carried out an attack that killed about 1,200 people in Israel. In response, Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza, where local authorities report nearly 51,000 deaths.
Spain's Eurovision stance and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez recently visiting China as US imposed new tariffs on European Union goods are its two recent moves at odds with US. Washington has also been escalating trade tensions with China with a whopping 145 percent tariff. China retaliated with 125 percent tariffs on American goods.
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