Ireland, Spain, Slovenia boycott Eurovision over Israel’s participation

National broadcasters in Ireland, Spain and Slovenia will not air the Eurovision Song Contest this year after deciding to boycott the event over Israel’s participation.

Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTV Slovenia confirmed on April 23 that it would not broadcast the world’s largest music event live and would instead air a series of films about Palestine, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Guardian.

Spain’s public broadcaster RTVE last week reaffirmed its decision not to air Eurovision, marking the first time the contest will not be shown on Spanish television since the country began participating in 1961.

Ireland’s public broadcaster RTÉ announced in December that it would neither broadcast the contest nor take part in it.

The Netherlands and Iceland also withdrew from participation last December, but the contest will still be broadcast in those countries on national channels NPO and RÚV.

The 70th Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Vienna, Austria, in May, with 35 countries set to compete.

The first semi-final is scheduled for May 12, the second on May 14, and the final on May 16.

Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria are also set to return to the competition this year.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov