MADRID (AP) — Spain joined Tuesday the group of nations threatening to not take part within the Eurovision Tune Contest until Israel is excluded from the competitors over the battle within the Gaza Strip.
The Netherlands, Eire and Slovenia had already taken the identical stance. Spain’s addition to the checklist places extra stress on each Israel and the European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the favored contest.
Spanish public broadcaster RTVE made the choice at a board assembly in Madrid.
The announcement comes as diplomatic ties between Spain and Israel frayed after massive protests towards the presence of a Israeli-owned biking workforce disrupted the Spanish Vuelta race. Spain’s prime minister mentioned Monday that he would love Israel to be banned from sporting occasions.
The European Broadcasting Union mentioned final week that it was consulting its members on “manage participation and geopolitical tensions” across the tune contest and would give them till mid-December to resolve in the event that they wish to take part.
Russia was banned from Eurovision after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, however Israel has continued to compete the previous two years regardless of disputes over its participation.
Eurovision’s finale is scheduled to be held in Vienna in Could.
