- Author, Annabel Rackham
- Role, Culture reporter
Israel’s Eurovision contestant says “nothing will deter” her after getting booed during a dress rehearsal on Wednesday.
Eden Golan was performing her song Hurricane ahead of Thursday’s semi-final in Malmo, Sweden.
In a statement, she said she was “proud to represent my country”.
There have been several campaigns to block Israel from taking part in this year’s contest following the outbreak of war in the Middle East.
But the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which hosts the event, has ruled Israel is allowed to compete.
After Wednesday’s dress rehearsal, several videos surfaced on social media from audience members who had recorded Golan being booed by some members of the crowd.
Israel is currently engaged in a military campaign in Gaza, which they launched as a response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on southern Israel on 7 October.
About 1,200 people were killed and 252 others were taken hostage.
More than 34,840 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory’s Hamas-run health ministry.
The country, along with other non-European countries such as Azerbaijan and Georgia, is free to compete in the competition as it is a member of the EBU.
Speaking on Sunday, the deputy director general of the EBU, Jean Philip De Tender, said if you “exclude Kan (Israeli public broadcaster) outside of these competition rules, that would have been a political decision, as such, which we cannot take”, because it considers itself as an apolitical organisation.
He added: “We do understand the concerns and the deeply held views that many people have around the war in the Middle East and I think nobody can remain untouched by the profound suffering of everybody involved in that war.”
Golan, was requested to change her original track, entitled October Rain, after it caused controversy.
Golan’s team say the 20-year-old has been confined to her hotel room after a series of threats against the Israeli delegation.
Eurovision organisers are expecting political protests in Malmo on Thursday, with police reinforcements being brought in from Denmark and Norway.
Organisers apologised on Tuesday after a semi-final performer displayed a pro-Palestinian symbol.
Eric Saade, who was among 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 TV show.
“All performers are made aware of the rules of the contest, and we regret that Eric Saade chose to compromise the non-political nature of the event.”
Fans were also warned not to bring Palestinian flags, symbols or bags into the audience at the Malmö Arena.
Image source, Sarah Louise Bennett/ EBU
Israel’s participation has been one of the main talking points at this year’s Eurovision.
Their costume had originally included an ancient Celtic writing known as Ogham – which they said had spelt “ceasefire” and “freedom for Palestine”.
The UK’s entrant, Olly Alexander, has 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 in the war – an accusation which Israel has vehemently rejected.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
