Spain calls for excluding Israel from international cultural events

SANAA, May 21 (YPA) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel to be excluded from international cultural events such as the Eurovision Song Contest due to its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.

“We cannot allow double standards, even in culture,” Sanchez said at a press conference in Madrid, adding that no one was surprised three years ago when Russia was asked to withdraw from international competitions after its invasion of Ukraine, and therefore Israel should not participate either.”

These remarks come as Eurovision, which emphasizes its political neutrality, faces renewed controversy, whereas Austrian singer GG won this month’s finals in Basel, Switzerland, while Israeli settler Yuval Rafael received the remote public vote.

Pro-Palestinian groups also criticized the European Broadcasting Union for excluding Israel due to the aggression on Gaza.