Spain has announced it will not take part in next year’s Eurovision song contest if Israel is allowed to compete in the event, which is scheduled to be held in Austria.
The decision comes from the executive board of RTVE, the Spanish broadcaster of the music competition, making Spain the first of the contest’s “Big Five” countries to speak out against Israel’s participation.
Several other nations, including Slovenia, Netherlands, and Ireland, have also threatened to withdraw from the competition.
RTVE’s announcement came on Tuesday, the same day a United Nations commission declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
José Pablo López, president of RTVE, said: “As joint organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest, we share a collective responsibility. While Israel has regularly participated in the competition, the current events and the genocide currently taking place make it impossible for us to look the other way.”
López continued: “It is not accurate to claim that Eurovision is merely an apolitical music festival. We are all aware that the contest carries significant political implications.“
