On the social media platform X, Amichai Chikli addressed Pedro Sánchez following the receipt of the maximum 12 points by the Israeli song in the Spanish televote, stating: “Sánchez, it seems the Spaniards have spoken, and the slap in the face was heard here in Jerusalem.”
Chikli’s message came after the Israeli representative, Yuval Raphael, secured second place with 357 points, 232 of which were from the televote, at a Song Festival in 2024 that continued to stir controversy over Israel’s participation amid ongoing military actions in the Gaza Strip, which has resulted in 53,000 deaths.
Austria emerged as the winner of the competition, which took place this year in Basel, Switzerland.
Chikli had previously criticized Sánchez in March during a convention against antisemitism organized by his department in Jerusalem, attended by several members of far-right European parties, including Spain’s Vox.
At the time, Chikli remarked that Sánchez is “an antisemite” for encouraging the international community to recognize the State of Palestine “soon after the massacre of October 7″ in 2023, perpetrated by Hamas on Israeli territory.”
“I want nothing to do with Sánchez, I do not respect Sánchez,” he added.
Boos returned to Eurovision on Saturday during the final of the 69th edition, during the performance of the Israeli representative, though not as loudly as in 2024.
Last year, Israel’s representative Eden Golan faced boos due to the thousands of Palestinians killed by the Israeli military offensive in Gaza, a number now reaching 53,000, with many children among the victims.
