Eurovision's political whirlwind: Israeli act faces backlash in Malmö
Many Europeans will set their sights on Malmö, Sweden, on Thursday, May 9th. This city will host the second semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Just a day before, on May 8th, rehearsals featured performers from across the continent, including Israel's representative, who faced a chilly reception.
The rehearsals on Wednesday, May 8th, brought together representatives from 16 nations for the second semi-final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Among the array of talents was Eden Golan from Israel, who remained undaunted despite facing an unwelcoming audience reaction during her rehearsal. Social media was abuzz with clips showing the audience's negative response to her performance despite the organizers' efforts to mitigate the situation.
Controversy during Israel's Eurovision Rehearsal
The rehearsal session on Wednesday for the much-anticipated semi-final saw participation from 16 countries, including a performance by Eden Golan of Israel. Eurovision's official channels initially portrayed the event as going off without a hitch. However, it soon became apparent that there were attempts to gloss over Eden Golan's difficulties.
The Eurovision team published footage showcasing the Israeli act's conclusion, which was met with applause and evident satisfaction from the audience in the Swedish Arena and a beaming Eden Golan. At first glance, it appeared to be a seamless rehearsal, with everything proceeding smoothly.
Yet, videos began emerging on platform X from attendees within the arena, presenting a different narrative. Throughout most of Golan's rehearsal, she was met with boos and cries advocating for Palestinian freedom and condemning Israel's actions in Gaza. It's important to remember that Israel's military has been launching operations into the Gaza Strip for months, impacting civilians unassociated with Hamas. The war has resulted in the loss of thousands of lives.
