Israel’s participation makes this a political Eurovision Song Contest | Eurovision Song Contest

Israeli singer Eden Golan has her song Hurricane cannot yet sing in front of an audience, but her performance is already controversial. Fans of the Eurovision Song Contest have been calling for Israel’s exclusion for months. In addition, artists such as Joost Klein have been called on to boycott this edition.

It affects every element of the Eurovision Song Contest. While in previous years there was a relaxed, fun atmosphere around the music event, there are police officers, roadblocks and extra security points everywhere in Malmö. Helicopters constantly circle above the city and men with guns stand on the roofs around the Malmö Arena and the Eurovillage.

Palestinian flags hang from balconies throughout the city. And graffiti on Eurovision posters makes it clear that not everyone appreciates Israel’s participation.

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On October 7 last year, more than a thousand people were killed in a Hamas attack on Israel. The militant group invaded Israeli territory and killed partygoers at a festival, in kibbutzim and on the streets. 252 people were kidnapped.

Israel has been waging a war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip ever since. Tens of thousands of people have now died. International pressure on Israel to stop the violence has been increasing for months. Several groups have asked the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organization of the Eurovision Song Contest, to exclude Israel from participation, but that did not happen.

And yet Russia was quickly banned from the competition after invading Ukraine in February 2022. At the time, several participating countries called on the EBU not to admit Russia. In Israel, at least, this did not happen in public. And so Golan will be “normal” on stage on Thursday evening.

Israel’s participation was accompanied by more problems than in previous years. The country wanted to participate in the song October Rain, which refers to the October 7 attack. But its lyrics were considered too political. Israel therefore had to choose a different song.

Also Dance Forever was subsequently refused. The song is said to contain clear references to the Re’im music festival, where hundreds were killed on October 7. Ultimately the choice was made Hurricanea modified version of October Rain.

Twenty-year-old Golan says she is proud that she can “be the voice of her country”, but her time in Malmö is far from carefree. The singer is under strict security and, according to various sources, is barely allowed to leave her hotel room. Due to a national day of remembrance, Golan was absent from the opening ceremony. She has not yet been seen in the press center, where artists regularly visit during the week of the Eurovision Song Contest.

On Thursday evening, Golan, like Joost Klein, will be in the second semi-final. In the afternoon, tens of thousands of people will gather outside for a demonstration, the organization behind one of the protests expects.

The Malmö police are preparing for a busy day. The largest demonstration is expected to run through the city, but people are gathering in various places in the city to express their dissatisfaction. These demonstrations work both ways: there are also people happy that Israel is participating.

It also became apparent on stage on Tuesday evening that it is impossible to keep politics completely out of the Eurovision Song Contest. While the organization managed to keep a political statement out of the performance during Ireland’s entry, the show opened with a statement of support for Palestinian citizens.

Swedish singer Eric Saade, who was part of the opening act, wore a kaffiya. That is a scarf that is seen as a symbol for Palestine. Saade’s father is of Palestinian descent.

Golan, who gives few interviews, told the news agency Reuters said something about the demonstrations and anger about her country’s participation. “People decide for themselves what they do. They have the right to speak out, but I focus on what I can do. And that is to put on a good performance. And to concentrate on the good things, the good atmosphere and the good people. “

The question remains whether we will see Israel again in the final. The singer must get one of the ten tickets. Then it will become clear how exciting Saturday will be. Not only for the participants, but also for the organization.