Before boycotting Israel, European countries should walk a mile in its shoes

There is a famous saying: “Don't judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes.”

Recently, All Israel News reported that Eurovision approved Israel’s participation in the iconic competition. The announcement, however, was met with protests, as Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia pulled out of the contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest has approved Israel’s participation in 2026, two European Broadcasting Union (EBU) members informed Reuters on Thursday. Anti-Israel campaigns have, since the Hamas October 7 massacre in 2023, falsely equated Israel with Russia and demanded Israel’s exclusion due to the Gaza war. Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, and Slovenia responded to Eurovision’s decision by announcing their withdrawal and boycott of the 2026 competition, which will be held in May in Vienna, Austria.

Firstly, I would like to say congratulations and celebrations (Cliff Richard’s 1968 entry, which came second) to the leadership of the contest for making the right decision.

Secondly, I would like to say to Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia: don’t judge until you walk a mile in Israel’s shoes.

Israel fought a war on seven fronts. They fought a Gaza war not with another nation where there are rules, but with terrorists who do not play by the same rules.

What would Ireland do if terrorists entered St. James’s Hospital in Dublin? Would they sit back and relax, or would they act?

What would Spain do if Portugal bombarded their country with rockets, giving citizens 15 seconds to reach a bomb shelter?

What would the Netherlands do if terrorists used their citizens as human shields?

What would Slovenia do if they found munitions in schools, mosques, and hospitals?

What would these countries do if they discovered a massive terrorist tunnel network under their capital cities—a network where terrorists could move freely and easily escape after committing attacks?

What would they do if their citizens were taken from their homes, dragged into these tunnels, and left chained in cages?

King David in the Bible faced a hostage dilemma when Ziklag was attacked and the women were taken captive, including David’s two wives. David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him.

And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. - 1 Samuel 30:8

David’s mission was a holy mission; Israel’s mission was a moral mission.

Would Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia text the enemy to warn them of a strike before targeting them? Would they drop leaflets to tell innocent people to evacuate?

So I would like to say to Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, and Slovenia: when you have stood in Israel’s shoes, then perhaps you will have earned the right to boycott a nation that is paying the ultimate price in the loss of soldiers—all because it seeks to protect its citizens after the worst terrorist attack in Israel’s history.