Spain votes to boycott Eurovision if Israel competes

Spain has become the latest country to threaten a boycott of next year's Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes.

It is now the fifth broadcaster to say it will pull out over Israel's participation, following recent announcements by the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland - but the first of the competition's so-called "Big Five", a group which also includes Britain, Germany, Italy and France.

These countries provide the biggest financial contributions to Eurovision, with participants automatically qualifying for the final round, and their withdrawal would increase the pressure on the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event.

The Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, the competition's governing body, said a decision on Israel's participation is pending and that it has "taken note of the concerns expressed by several broadcasters".

RTVE, the Spanish state broadcaster, announced the decision following a board vote on Tuesday.

The measure, proposed by president Jose Pablo Lopez, garnered 10 votes in favour, four against, and one abstention in the 15-member board, the broadcaster said in a statement.

Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez has previously called for Israel to be banned from the competition, highlighting how Russia was expelled following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

At the time, the EBU said the decision reflected "concern that, in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine, the inclusion of a Russian entry in this year's contest would bring the competition into disrepute".

Recent editions of the contest, which has always expressed political neutrality, have involved demonstrations against Israel's continued military action in Gaza - launched in response to the attack by Hamas militants on 7 October 2023, which left some 1,200 people dead.

Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the Hamas attack, finished second in this year's competition, held in Basel, Switzerland, in May - but there were protests before and during her performance. Austrian singer JJ, who won, has also called for Israel's exclusion in 2026.

Israel has denied accusations it is committing genocide and claimed its actions have been in self-defence against Hamas. More than 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its military action.

In a statement following the vote in Spain, contest director Martin Green said he understood the "concerns and deeply held views around the ongoing conflict in the Middle East", and that consultation with members is ongoing "to gather views on how we manage participation and geopolitical tensions".

Broadcasters have until mid-December to conform if they want to take part.

What have others said?

Dutch broadcaster AvroTros said last week that it was taking a stance in response to the loss of life in Gaza, with the deaths of journalists there a factor in the decision.

Irish broadcaster RTE said the country was taking the same stance, saying it was "unconscionable" to take part given the "ongoing and appalling loss of lives in Gaza".

Following his win in May, singer JJ said it was "disappointing to see Israel still participating", according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. "I would like the next Eurovision to be held in Vienna and without Israel," he added.

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The "potential impacts and consequences of either decision" are being assessed, the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group said in a statament.

Next year's Eurovision will be the 70th anniversary of the event, and will take place at the Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna on 16 May.

(c) Sky News 2025: Spain votes to boycott Eurovision if Israel competes