Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
SPAIN’S state broadcaster RTVE contacted Eurovision Song Contest organisers, asking for talks about Israel’s participation in Basel’s event, Switzerland, in May.
Jose Pablo Lopez, the director general of RTVE, wrote to Noel Curran and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) director general in order to discuss the matter.
Israel’s representative is Yuval Raphael. He is a 24-year old survivor from the Hamas terrorist attacks in October 2023.
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New Day Will Rise is a reference to the conflict in the song: “A new dawn will come, and life will continue.” The darkness will fade and all pain will pass but we will remain.
The EBU asked that lyrics in songs from Finland, and Malta be changed because they had sexual connotations.
In the letter from RTVE to Noel Curran, it is stated: “RTVE expresses to EBU its commitment towards the festival but also acknowledges the concerns raised in Spain by different civil society groups regarding the situation of Gaza and participation of public television KAN to the contest.”
“RTVE believes that the EBU should acknowledge the existence of this discussion and allow some time for reflection for all the broadcasters who are participating in the contest.”
Jose Pablo Lopez, RTVE chief, was asked by Francisco Sierra of the Sumar party, a far-left parliamentarian, to comment on Israel’s involvement in the contest.
He said he will seek a unified stance of the RTVE board, and then communicate that position to the EBU.
He claimed that the EBU, as an independent body, makes its decisions apart from its radio and television members.
Israel’s withdrawal has yet to be called for by any EBU member country, unlike last year.
