Five Nations Boycott Israel at Eurovision
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Eurovision final in Vienna attracted about 2,000 demonstrators marching outside to protest Israel's participation in the contest.
- Spain withdrew from the competition and its national broadcaster refused to air the show, joining the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia in boycott over Israel.
- Pedro Sánchez, Spain's Prime Minister, said the boycott puts Spain on the "right side of history".
- Amnesty International Secretary‑General Agnes Callamard condemned the EBU's decision to allow Israel, calling it an act of cowardice and a double standard.
- European Broadcasting Union previously banned Russia after its 2022 invasion of Ukraine but has not suspended Israel, fueling accusations of double standards.
Why it matters: The boycott forces the European Broadcasting Union to confront credibility loss, while human‑rights advocates gain a platform; the EBU's reputation suffers as audiences question the contest's political neutrality.
