- Author, Annabel Rackham
- Role, Cultural journalist
The Israeli Eurovision contestant said “nothing will deter her” after she was booed during a dress rehearsal on Wednesday.
Eden Golan performed her song Hurricane before Thursday’s semi-final in Malmö, Sweden.
In a statement, she said she was “proud to represent my country”.
There have been several campaigns to prevent Israel from participating in this year’s competition following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts the event, ruled that Israel was allowed to compete.
After Wednesday’s dress rehearsal, several videos surfaced on social media showing Golan being booed by some members of the crowd.
Israel is currently engaged in a military campaign in Gaza, launched in response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on southern Israel on October 7.
Around 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage.
Since then, more than 34,840 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run territory’s health ministry.
The country, along with other non-European countries like Azerbaijan and Georgia, is free to participate in the competition because it is a member of the EBU.
Speaking on Sunday, EBU Deputy Director General Jean Philip De Tender said that if you “exclude Kan (the Israeli public broadcaster) outside of these competition rules, it would have been a political decision, as as such, which we cannot take”. , because it considers itself to be an apolitical organization.
He added: “We understand the deeply held concerns and opinions of many people regarding the war in the Middle East and I believe that no one can remain insensitive to the deep suffering of all those involved in this war.”
Golan, was asked to edit her original track, titled October Rain, after it sparked controversy.
Golan’s team says the 20-year-old was confined to her hotel room after a series of threats against the Israeli delegation.
Eurovision organizers expect political protests in Malmö on Thursday, with police reinforcements from Denmark and Norway.
Organizers apologized Tuesday after a semi-final artist displayed a pro-Palestinian symbol.
Eric Saadé, who was part of the show’s opening acts, wore a keffiyeh – a type of scarf commonly used by people who want to show they are pro-Palestinian – on his arm.
A spokeswoman for the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said: “The Eurovision Song Contest is a live television broadcast.
“All artists are informed of the rules of the competition and we regret that Eric Saadé has chosen to compromise the apolitical nature of the event.”
Supporters were also warned not to bring Palestinian flags, symbols or bags into the Malmö Arena audience.
Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/EBU
Israel’s participation was one of the main talking points at this year’s Eurovision.
Their costume originally featured ancient Celtic writing known as Ogham, which they said meant “ceasefire” and “freedom for Palestine.”
British attendee Olly Alexander previously called for an “immediate and lasting ceasefire” in Gaza, but refused calls to boycott the event.
In December, he signed a statement accusing Israel of genocide during the war – a charge Israel vehemently rejected.
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News Source : www.bbc.com
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