CENTRE STAGE
Israeli singer Eden Golan shrugs off Eurovision protests and backlash as she delivers powerful semi-final performance
She was made to stay in her hotel room while protesters took to the streets
ISRAEL'S Eurovision hopeful Eden Golan put on a brave face and ignored a huge protest to deliver a powerful semi-final performance.
The singer seemed unaffected by boos in rehearsals and a 5,000-strong rally in host city Malmo that forced her to remain holed up in her hotel room earlier in the day.
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She professionally sang her ethereal anthem Hurricane and was cheered on in a drastic departure from the rehearsal drama.
The song proved a hit with viewers with one writing on X: "WOW!!! Simply magnificent!!!
Another said: "#Israel bringing a song that could be the new hit from a Disney movie."
Eden cheered and thanked viewers as Israel was named as the fifth country on the night to make Saturday's grand final.
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Hours earlier, Sweden's third largest city was flooded with demonstrators waving Palestinian flags to protest Israel’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest this week.
Golan, 20, was ordered to stay in her hotel room by her country's national security agency Shin Bet over fears for her safety.
Malmo had been anticipating the wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations and it was feared the young Israeli-Russian singer could find herself at risk.
As many as 5,000 people have taken to Malmo's streets, with smoke canisters in the colours of the Palestinian flag being set off and protesters carrying signs displaying images of Gaza victims.
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Amongst the large number protesting against Israel's inclusion in Eurovision, however, was climate activist Greta Thunberg.
The young Swede was pictured wearing a keffiyeh - a black and white shawl commonly used to show support for Palestine - around her body in the centre of the crowd.
Watch shock moment Eurovision crowds BOO & shout ‘Free Palestine’ at Israeli contestant Eden Golan ahead of Grand Final
Surrounded by a sea of Palestinian flags, she told Reuters news agency: "Young people are leading the way and showing the world how we should react to this."
She refused to comment on why she had joined the protest, however, only saying it was "good" as the march took place.
Some protesters had even brought along their dogs and young children to join in the march, while others held banners displaying anti-Eurovision messages.
One read "welcome to Genocide song contest", while "stop using Eurovision to whitewash Israeli crimes" was written on another.
There was even a banner done in the style of Eurovision with the word "genocide" on it, an accusation vigorously denied by Israel amid the country's war with Hamas following the terror group's October 7 attack.
During the march, chants of “Eurovision shame on you! Blood is on your hands too!” rung out around downtown Malmo.
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While the sound of police helicopters circling overhead couldn't drown them out, officers on the ground managed to intervene and stop some of the protesters in their tracks.
There was a significant police presence in the square as Swedish authorities heighten security ahead of possible unrest.
Malmo had already been taken over by approximately 100,000 visitors for the annual kitsch-fest before 5,000 protesters made themselves known.
Metal barricades and large concrete blocks have been put up around Malmo Arena, the host venue, where visitors must pass through metal detectors before entering.
Bags were checked and visitors were only allowed to bring in small purses, with organisers concerned political demonstrations could take place in the crowd.
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Golan's song Hurricane is reworked from an early track October Rain - thought to be a reference to the attack by Hamas.
During her rehearsals on Wednesday, she was booed and there were reported shouts of "free Palestine".
Golan vowed that "nothing will deter" her after the performance was interrupted by protesters, vowing that she was "proud to represent my country".
Others in the large crowd did applaud her, though, and the young singer hopes her performance will help to unite people.
"It's a super important moment for us, especially this year," she said earlier this week. "I feel honoured to have the opportunity to be the voice of my country."
Israel's involvement in the competition has been met with fierce criticism due to the country's ongoing war against Hamas inside the Gaza Strip.
However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, has dismissed calls for Israel to be excluded.
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The competition bills itself as a non-political event and can disqualify countries who break that neutrality rules.
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The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, has defended its ruling that Israel is allowed to compete despite its war in Gaza.
It claimed that it would be a "political move" to bar Israel from competing.
Defending the inclusion of Israel, the EBU’s director general Noel Curran , "The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU.
"It is not a contest between governments."
On February 25 2022, the EBU excluded Russia from participating before it was due to perform in the semi-final.
At the time, it said Russia's inclusion could bring the competition into disrepute "in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine".
Citing the 2022 exclusion of Russia this week, Curran said, “The Russian broadcasters themselves were suspended from the EBU due to their persistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service values."
Israel has won Eurovision five times in the past 50 years it has taken part in the singing competition.
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