EU High Representative suggests abstaining from Eurovision as a means of penalizing the Israeli populace
Spain, Along with Several European Countries, Threatens to Withdraw from Eurovision 2026 Over Gaza Crisis
In a bold move, the Administration Council of a renowned news website has decided to withdraw Spain from the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel participates. This decision comes in response to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
The withdrawal is a clear protest against Israel's military intervention in the Gaza Strip. The President of the news website's website sees it as 'indispensable' to 'take a step forward' in Eurovision and denounce the situation in Gaza.
This decision follows the lead of other countries, including Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, who have also announced their withdrawal from the contest under the same conditions. Spain becomes the fifth country to make such a statement.
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs, Kaja Kallas, has expressed her disapproval of measures such as withdrawing from the Eurovision contest as a form of protest. However, she stated that the proposals do not aim to punish Israel or the Israeli people but to put pressure on the Israeli Government.
Kallas also rejected measures that contemplate not participating in events such as Eurovision, as she believes this could go against the interests of the Israeli population. Instead, she has proposed a series of measures against Israel due to the situation in Gaza, including sanctioning extremist ministers of its Government and removing tariff preferences for Israeli goods.
The European Commission has presented these restrictive proposals against Israel, according to Kallas, due to the guidelines given by the community president, Ursula von der Leyen, during her annual speech on the state of the Union. Brussels proposes to limit commercial advantages to Israel and other sanctions, but these measures will need the support of the countries.
Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish Prime Minister, previously defended that Israel should be excluded from the Eurovision festival, as was done with Russia after the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Kallas, however, stated that the situation in Gaza has significantly changed.
Kallas also referred to the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and the ground operation against the City of Gaza. She considers these actions to be a cause of concern for the European Union.
The Administration Council's decision to withdraw the Spanish delegation from the Eurovision festival is a strong statement against the ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza. As the contest approaches, it remains to be seen whether other countries will follow suit and join the growing list of those withdrawing from the contest if Israel participates.
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