Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday called for Israel to be excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest as long as it continues with its military campaign in Gaza, reported Xinhua.
Speaking at the presentation of a report entitled The Cultural and Creative Sectors in Spain, Sanchez said Israel should face the same consequences as Russia, which was barred from international competitions, including Eurovision, following the conflict in Ukraine.
"If (Russia) was required to withdraw from international competitions and not participate in Eurovision, neither should Israel. We cannot allow double standards in culture," Sanchez stated.
He emphasized the importance of consistency in upholding international law, asserting that Spain had to be "constant and consistent" in its stance.
Sanchez's remarks came two days after the Eurovision final was held in Switzerland. Austria won the contest, but Israel placed second, topping the online public voting.
Spanish state TV network RTVE, which aired the event, had reportedly been warned by organizers not to mention Israel's military campaign in Gaza during the final after its commentators talked about the conflict during the semi-finals.
In response, RTVE displayed an onscreen message just before the final broadcast: "In the face of human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine."
- Spanish PM
- Israel
- Ban
- Eurovision
Source: www.dailyfinland.fi
