Spain has become the fifth country to confirm it will not participate in the Eurovision Song Contest next year if Israel is permitted to compete.

Spanish broadcaster RTVE said its board had approved the measure, proposed by its president Jose Pablo Lopez, with an absolute majority in a vote on Tuesday. In a statement, it said there were 10 votes in favour, four against, and one abstention.

The move follows in the wake of threatened boycotts by Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland amid growing international condemnation of Israel’s near-two-year military campaign in Gaza.

It also followed a recent call by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez for Israel to be banned from the competition.

Spain is the first member of the so-called “Big Five” nations, who make the biggest fina

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