When the artist Eden Golan performed Israel’s entry “Hurricane” during the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Thursday evening, she was once again booed by the audience. Something that was noticed all the more on site in the Malmö arena, than in SVT’s broadcast.
Already during Wednesday’s rehearsal, Eden Golan was met by a booing audience, where some in the audience are said to have shouted “Free Palestine” and waved a Palestinian flag, despite extensive security checks.
But despite boos from the crowd, Eden Golan continued to sing and complete his number, showing no sign of reacting to the crowd’s displeasure. She has said in interviews that the booing does not affect her.
– Thank you very much, she shouted from the stage and threw kisses to the audience after her performance.
Yesterday 22:54
Watch a clip from Israel’s rehearsal
Belgian television interrupted the broadcast under Israel’s number
In Belgium, the Eurovision telecast was interrupted by a call for a cease-fire in Gaza – in the middle of the competition, writes HLN.
“Doing nothing and just watching is no longer an option,” writes the trade union behind the action.
“We condemn the state of Israel’s violations of human rights,” the union writes further.
The message was displayed on the television screen for a short time.
“We have been following the events in the Middle East with horror for several months now. We are convinced that the state of Israel is carrying out genocide and it is therefore scandalous that there is an Israeli contribution in the Eurovision song contest”, writes the trade union, ACOD-VRT, in a comment to the newspaper.
Proceeds to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest
Israel advances from the other semi-final, along with Switzerland, Greece, Georgia, Austria, Norway, Estonia, the Netherlands and Latvia. The last final place went to Armenia.