Top line
Israeli singer Eden Golan has qualified for the final round of the Eurovision Song Contest and will sing later on Saturday, as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators continue to protest in the event’s host city, Malmö, Sweden , calling for Israel’s exclusion from the contest over Israel. -Hamas War.
Israel’s Eden Golan, center, celebrates her place in the final during the second semi-final … (+)
Highlights
Protesters, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, have been gathering for days in Malmö with large crowds gathering on Saturday ahead of the final, amid calls to expel Israel. Thunberg was arrested by Swedish police amid a standoff with officers on Saturday afternoon, the BBC reported. .
Boycotts of the competition began before it even began.
Israeli singer Eden Golan has been placed at the center of international controversy surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, enjoying heavy security and reportedly being ordered to stay in her hotel room when not performing for security reasons.
Dutch artist Joost Klein was deported on Saturday morning after Swedish police investigated a “complaint made by a female member of the production team”, and although no charges were filed, “he “It would not be appropriate for him to continue participating in the competition,” according to Eurovision organizer the European Broadcasting Union.
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What time is the Eurovision final and where is it streamed?
In the United States, the Eurovision final begins at 3 p.m. EDT. It will be streamed live on Peacock and, in some regions, on the Eurovision YouTube channel. A full list of broadcasters for each participating country can be found here.
Title section
When news broke that Klein’s participation in the competition was under review, it sparked false speculation that there might be a connection to Golan. Tensions flared at a news conference earlier this week when Golan was asked if she thought her presence at the event posed a threat to the safety of other attendees and was told by a moderator that She wasn’t required to answer the question, prompting Klein to shout, “Why not?” But the EBU said in its statement regarding Klein’s departure: “contrary to some media reports and speculation on social media, this incident does not involve any other artists or members of the delegation.”
Large number
20,000. This is the number of demonstrators that the Swedish police expected on Saturday in Malmö, according to the Times of Israel.
To monitor
Croatia is the betting favorite to win the competition, although Israel has climbed to second, according to Eurovision World, a website that tracks competition betting odds.
Key context
Pro-Palestinian protesters have called for Israel’s exclusion from the competition and further boycotts as the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza rages. In March, after several musical groups pressured contestants to boycott the contest, nine Eurovision artists released a joint statement calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, but did not withdraw from the contest. the competition. The European Broadcasting Union resisted calls to exclude Israel from the event, but asked Golan to change the lyrics of his original song, “Hurricane”, inspired by the events of the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 october. The song was originally titled “October Rain” and contained more specific allusions to the attack, but the competition said it required all songs to be apolitical.
Crucial quote
“Be blessed and know that when they boo you, we cheer you on,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement. video statement in Golan on X earlier this week.
Chief Spokesperson
Climate activist Greta Thunberg has accused Israel of “artwashing” its actions in Gaza, alleging that the country is using competition to distract from an alleged “genocide” of the Palestinian people.
Further reading
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