Music Spanish broadcaster calls for "debate" about Israel's participation in ESC
The Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has called for a "debate" on Israel's participation in this year's Eurovision Song Contest in light of the war in the Gaza Strip. RTVE turned to the European Broadcasting Union.
12.04.2025, 01:21
SDA
In a letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the event, RTVE "called for a debate on the participation of Israeli public television (KAN) in the contest", RTVE said in a statement on Friday.
The Spanish broadcaster said it would be "appropriate for the EBU to recognize the existence of this debate and provide a discussion forum for EBU member broadcasters on the participation of Israeli public television". The Spanish broadcaster based its concerns on the "situation in Gaza".
The EBU replied that it "appreciated the concerns (...) about the current conflict in the Middle East", but added that all its members were entitled to participate in the music competition.
Yuval Raphael represents Israel
The Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) is one of the biggest live television events in the world and will be held in Basel this year. The semi-finals will take place on May 13 and 15. The final will be held on May 17.
The broadcasters of the participating countries will select the musicians who will represent them in the competition. Should KAN not be allowed to take part, there would therefore be no Israeli performance at this year's ESC. Israel will be represented at this year's ESC in Basel by Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the major attack on Israel by the radical Islamic group Hamas on October 7, 2023.
In March, two petitions were submitted to the Finnish Broadcasting Corporation with the aim of having Israel excluded from the ESC. One was signed by more than 10,000 people.
At the ESC 2024 in Malmö, Sweden, thousands of people protested against Israel's participation.
