Culture minister calls for Spanish Eurovision boycott if Israel allowed to participate
Spanish Culture Minister Ernest Urtasun has called for a boycott of the Eurovision Song Contest next year if Israel is allowed to take part, joining a chorus of European countries threatening to pull out over the war in Gaza.
“We have to ensure that Israel does not take part in the next edition of Eurovision. Just as Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland and also the Netherlands have already done, if we do not succeed in expelling Israel, Spain should not participate,” Urtasun told Spanish public radio.
The European Broadcasting Union, which organises the event, will decide if Israel will take part, he said.
Public broadcasters have until mid-December to confirm whether they will allow Israel to continue to take part.
The last country to be excluded from the event was Russia in 2022 after its invasion of Ukraine.
Spain’s PM calls for international sporting ban on Israel
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has called for Israeli competitors to be banned from international sporting contests.
Speaking a day after pro-Palestinian protesters in Madrid forced the final stage of Spain’s prestigious Vuelta a Espana cycling race to be abandoned, Sanchez said Israeli teams should face a ban similar to those faced by Russian athletes after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.
“Our position is clear and categorical: As long as barbarity continues, neither Russia nor Israel should participate in any international competition,” Sanchez said, reiterating his “deep admiration” for the protesters in Madrid.
The protesters objected to the presence of the Israel-Premier Tech cycling team in the race.
US actor Hannah Einbinder shouts ‘Free Palestine’ as she collects Emmy
US actor Hannah Einbinder has issued a call to “Free Palestine” while accepting an Emmy award for best supporting actress at a ceremony in Los Angeles.
Einbinder, who has spoken out in support of the Palestinian cause previously, received the award for her work in the comedy series Hacks.
In comments to reporters, Einbinder said the Palestinian cause was “really close to my heart for many reasons”, saying she had friends working in humanitarian roles in the territory.
“I feel like it is my obligation as a Jewish person to distinguish Jews from the State of Israel,” she said.
