Eurovision: Israel’s entry during rehearsals

Aidan Golan, Israel’s entrant for the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, chanted “Free Palestine” during the singer’s performance in Malmö, Sweden, during rehearsals on Thursday.

Before the Eurovision semi-finals, Golan was performing her song “Storm” when sections of the crowd turned to her and jeered. In video clips posted on social media, Gulen can be heard during rehearsals, local media reported that there were also political slogans.

Outside the Eurovision venue in Malmö, long considered a left-leaning city within Sweden with a rich history of protest, protests against Israel’s war in Gaza continue this week. On Thursday, local police reported that more than 10,000 people, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, marched through the city in a pro-Palestinian protest that directly called on Eurovision organizers to remove Israel from the contest.

The controversy has been big news in Sweden, with several high-profile musicians, including Robyn, Fever Ray, Axel Boman, Refused, DJ Seinfeld, Peder Mannerfelt and more than 1,000 First Aid kits. Signatories of an open letter Calls for Eurovision to ban Israel from 2024 contest The open letter states that “the fact that countries that consider themselves above humanitarian law are welcome to participate in international cultural events trivializes violations of international law and the victims.” makes the pain invisible,” the open letter said.

Despite negative reactions from the crowd inside and outside the arena, Gulen’s song was one of 10 that made it from Thursday’s second semi-final to Saturday’s live-televised final, when another major Palestinian supporter A protest is planned.

The Golan has become a lightning rod for widespread criticism of Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza, which has killed more than 34,000 people in seven months, according to Gaza health officials. The inclusion of Israel, who won Eurovision in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018, in this year’s contest has sparked heated debate across Europe, especially since Russia was barred from the event in 2022 after invading Ukraine.

Eurovision is usually apolitical, but geopolitics has come to the fore in recent times and this year’s event has become one of the most divisive in living memory. Across Europe, national broadcasters that make up the European Broadcasting Union, which oversees Eurovision, have been asked to boycott this year’s event over Israel’s involvement over the war in Gaza. is facing The EBU, by contrast, has doubled down and rejected calls to ban Israel.

Before the competition begins in earnest, the EBU, trying, and apparently failing, to stick to its apolitical principles, requested that the Israeli entry change the title of their song and some of the lyrics.. Gulen’s song was originally called “October Rain” with certain lyrics believed to be a reference to the October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. After a storm of controversy and Israeli refusal to change anything, a compromise was reached after the country’s president, Isaac Herzog, insisted on making the “necessary adjustments” so that Israel could compete.

On March 29, several Eurovision entrants issued a joint statement calling for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire” in Gaza, as well as the return of Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The statement was signed by acts including Bambi Thug (Ireland), Gate (Norway), Islanda (Portugal), Megara (San Marino), Masti (Belgium), Nemo (Switzerland), Ole Alexander (UK), Saba (Denmark). were , Sylvester Belt (Lithuania) and Windows 95 Man (Finland).

The EBU also issued a directive to refrain from political symbols and statements during performances, in line with the non-political nature of the competition. BBC reports Ireland’s Bambi Thug said he had been “ordered” to remove any political symbols from his outfit before his semi-final performance, adding that his outfit had originally read “Ceasefire” and “Palestine Freedom”. Included were passages written in ancient Celtic script. Ogham. Fans were also warned not to bring Palestinian flags or symbols into the Eurovision venue.