LONDON: The Sanremo Music Festival sparked controversy at the weekend as a result of an on-stage plea by one of the performers, Italian-Tunisian rapper Ghali, to “stop the genocide” in Gaza.
Israel’s ambassador to Italy, Alon Bar, said the festival, which is officially known as the 74th Italian Song Festival and is a major TV event during which Italy’s Eurovision contestant is chosen, was being exploited to “spread hatred and provocation in a superficial, irresponsible way.”