Malmo, Sweden – Israeli singer Eden Golan has advanced to the final round of the Eurovision song competition amidst ongoing protests by thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Malmo, Sweden. The demonstrators are urging for Israel to be excluded from the competition due to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
The protests, which included activists like Greta Thunberg, have been escalating in Malmo for days, with large crowds gathering on Saturday ahead of the finals. Thunberg even faced arrest by Swedish police during a standoff on Saturday afternoon. Additionally, Dutch performer Joost Klein was expelled from the competition following an investigation by Swedish police related to a complaint made by a female member of the production crew.
Israeli singer Eden Golan has found herself at the center of controversy surrounding Israel’s involvement in the conflict in Gaza. Golan has reportedly been under tight security measures, including being ordered to stay in her hotel room when not performing due to safety concerns. The European Broadcasting Union, the organizer of Eurovision, made it clear that Golan was not involved in the incident that led to Klein’s expulsion from the competition.
In the U.S., the Eurovision finals are set to start at 3 p.m. EDT and will be live-streamed on Peacock. Croatia is currently the favorite to win the competition, with Israel rising to the second spot in the rankings, according to Eurovision World.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have been calling for Israel’s exclusion from the competition in light of the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. Back in March, pressure from various groups led to a joint statement by nine Eurovision artists calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The European Broadcasting Union, however, has resisted calls to exclude Israel from the event but did ask Golan to change the lyrics of her entry song, “Hurricane,” to avoid political references.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his support to Golan amidst the controversy, while climate activist Greta Thunberg accused Israel of “artwashing” its actions in Gaza through its participation in Eurovision. The tensions and protests surrounding Israel’s involvement in the competition are expected to continue leading up to the finals.