Eurovision semifinal sparks backlash: Israel's controversial advance

The Eurovision Song Contest's second semi-final was on Thursday evening, determining the final lineup. The results provoked intense reactions, particularly concerning Israel's advancement and Belgium's failure to make it to the final. But the controversy didn’t end there.

The semi-final stirred a wide range of emotions among viewers. Performances ranged from profoundly moving to upbeat pop, sparking much controversy. The most contentious topic was Israel's qualification, which was met with boos from the audience.

Moreover, the war in the Gaza Strip added another layer of tension, with Eurovision enthusiasts in Malmö organizing a protest to call for Israel's withdrawal from the competition. This prompted fiery debates on social media regarding the semi-final outcomes.

After the Thursday semi-final, discussions flooded online platforms, including the UK's Facebook page for eurovision.org, criticizing the selection process. Fans particularly questioned the viewer voting system, with many pointing to Israel's progression.

I was in complete disbelief; there was no spot for Belgium. Israel is hoping it doesn’t win by chance. With the main sponsor being Israeli, maybe it’s not such a coincidence after all; Belgium was robbed.... I am utterly shocked Belgium didn’t make it. I am happy for Latvia and Georgia, mainly since the Dons had slim chances; Estonia over Belgium? I'm glad to see Georgia and Latvia break their unlucky streak, but Estonia’s inclusion is disappointing; it's a Total miss with the Netherlands. Strong entries from Malta, Denmark, and San Marino were overlooked, while the least impressive acts made the final. The lack of a jury in the semi-finals led to such questionable outcomes, Missing Belgium’s act. Estonia and the Netherlands were surprising, but not in a good way. Is this some joke? - these are just some comments on the eurovision.org’s Facebook post.