By Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen
Malmo, Sweden, May 11 (Reuters) – Thousands of people gathered in Malmo, Sweden, on Saturday to protest Israel’s participation in the tense Eurovision Song Contest final.
Organizers of the supposedly apolitical competition resisted calls to exclude Israel but demanded a change to the lyrics of the candidate song to remove what they see as references to the Hamas attack on the Jewish state on July 7. october.
On Saturday, around 3,000 protesters – according to a police count – gathered in Malmö’s central square before marching to the competition site waving Palestinian flags.
“Eurovision united by genocide” – a variation of the competition’s official slogan, “United by music” – they chanted.
“Israel should not participate in the competition. Just like Russia,” protester Mira told Reuters.
An alternative music festival, presented by its organizers as the “genocide-free song competition”, was to be held on Saturday.
In this tense climate, French singer Slimane interrupted his performance on Saturday during rehearsals to deliver a message of peace.
“We must be united through music,” the singer said in English, who was applauded inside the auditorium.
THE DUTCH CANDIDATE EXCLUDED
More than 10,000 pro-Palestinian activists, including climate activist Greta Thunberg, took part in a non-violent demonstration last Thursday before the semi-final of the competition.
At the same time, a small group of pro-Israel activists, including members of Malmö’s Jewish community, marched peacefully in support of Israeli singer Eden Golan.
Dutch candidate Joost Klein was excluded from the final of the competition on Saturday after a complaint was filed against him due to his behavior by a member of the production team, announced the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the competition.
Croatian singer Baby Lasagna, real name Marko Purišic, 28, with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”, is the boomakers’ favorite to win the competition, ahead of Israeli Eden Golan, 20, and her song “Hurricane” .
Boos were heard from the audience before, during and after Eden Golan’s semi-final performance on Thursday. His performance was also greeted by applause and Israeli flags brandished by spectators, according to a Reuters journalist present in the auditorium. (Reporting Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen, Tom Little and Ilze Filks in Malmö, Louise Rasmussen in Copenhagen, Terje Solsvik in Oslo and Johan Ahlander in Gothenburg; With Toby Sterling; French version Elizabeth Pineau)
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