MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Eden Golan, a 20-year-old Israeli singer, finds herself immersed in tight security measures as she navigates between her hotel and the Eurovision Song Contest venue in Malmo. Amidst the tension surrounding her presence, Golan has been practicing her singing despite facing booing from protesters preparing for her performance in the pan-continental song competition.
The young singer has become a focal point for pro-Palestinian demonstrators demanding Israel’s expulsion from Eurovision due to its conflict with Hamas in Gaza, which has resulted in a significant loss of lives. A sizable crowd upwards of 10,000 protestors marched through Malmo, chanting for a “Free Palestine” and labeling Israel as a “terror state,” urging a boycott of the Eurovision competition for alleged complicity in genocide.
Despite the uproar, Golan has maintained a low profile in Malmo, limiting her appearances outside from rehearsals and performances at the Malmo Arena. While other contestants have engaged with fans in a Eurovision park, Golan opted to stay obscured from public view.
Her participation in the Eurovision semifinal on Thursday, where she advanced along with nine others, was met with a mix of boos and applause from the audience. As the final competition approaches, combining public votes and national music-industry juries to determine the winner, bookmakers predict Golan to finish strongly within the top half.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu commended Golan for her resilience in the face of what he described as an “ugly wave of anti-Semitism.” He expressed support for Golan amidst the criticism, emphasizing that while some may boo her, others are cheering her on.
Golan’s song, “Hurricane,” initially titled “October Rain,” underwent a name change to comply with Eurovision regulations prohibiting political content. The revamped lyrics focus on resilience in challenging times and the enduring nature of love. Born in Israel to parents of Soviet descent, Golan honed her skills in Russia before returning to Israel, drawing influence from music icons like Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston, and Justin Timberlake.
While Golan refrains from making explicit political statements, she views representing her country at Eurovision as a significant honor, especially during tumultuous times. Following the intense emotions of the semi-final, Golan eagerly anticipates taking the stage once more to share her music with the audience.