Hawzah News Agency- From cycling races in Spain to basketball arenas in Poland, the fallout from the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza is increasingly spilling into sports and cultural life across Europe.
Protests and boycotts are mounting, echoing the measures once deployed against Apartheid-era South Africa and, more recently, Russia after the beginning of the war in Ukraine.
A major cycling race in Spain was disrupted by demonstrators opposing the participation of an Israeli team. In Poland, fans booed the Israeli anthem before a Eurobasket match. Several European broadcasters are also threatening to boycott next year’s Eurovision Song Contest if "Israel" is permitted to compete.
The backlash reflects a growing call to isolate "Israel" internationally over the unbearable death toll and dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Critics argue that "Israel" should face the same exclusion that Russia encountered in 2022, when its athletes were banned from major competitions and forced to compete under a neutral flag.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez sharpened the debate this week, declaring his support for pro-Palestine protesters who disrupted the Vuelta cycling race. Sanchez urged a ban on "Israel" from international sports until the “barbarity” in Gaza ceases.
His government’s position was quickly echoed by Spain’s public broadcaster, which joined three other European countries in threatening to withdraw from Eurovision.
FIFA declined to comment on its "Israel" policy or on delayed proceedings reviewing Palestinian complaints seeking to bar "Israel" from international competition. European soccer federations, meanwhile, claim they are compelled to play Israeli teams to avoid sanctions, even as public scrutiny grows.
Beyond boardrooms, protests are increasingly visible. Israeli teams have faced unwelcoming receptions across Europe. In Katowice, Poland, the Israeli anthem was loudly booed at Eurobasket.
The cultural front is equally fraught. Earlier this month, prominent Hollywood figures pledged to boycott Israeli film institutions.
Source: Al Mayadeen
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