Israeli singer Eden Golan advanced to the final round of the Eurovision song competition and will sing later Saturday, as thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators continue to protest in the event’s host city of Malmo, Sweden, calling for Israel’s exclusion from the competition over the Israel-Hamas war.
Eden Golan of Israel, centre, celebrates gaining a place in the final during the second semi-final ... [+]
Protesters, including Swedish climate activist Greta Thunburg, have been gathering in Malmo for days with large crowds gathering Saturday ahead of the finals amid as calls for Israel’s expulsion.
Boycotts of the competition began before it even started.
Israeli singer Eden Golan has been thrust into the center of the international controversy surrounding Israel’s war in Gaza, receiving heavy security and reportedly ordered by security to stay in her hotel room when not performing due to safety concerns.
The 20-year-old Golan has been repeatedly booed on stage during dress rehearsals and formal performances, but still earned enough votes after her Thursday semi-final performance to advance into Saturday’s finals.
Dutch performer Joost Klein was expelled Saturday morning after Swedish police investigated a “complaint made by a female member of the production crew,” and while no charges have been filed, “it would not be appropriate for him to continue in the contest,” according to Eurovision organizer the European Broadcasting Union.
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In the U.S., the Eurovision finals start at 3 p.m. EST. It’ll stream live on Peacock, and in some areas it will be livestreamed on the Eurovision YouTube channel. A full list of broadcasters for every participating country can be found here.
When news broke that Klein’s participation in the contest was under review, it prompted false speculation it may have been somehow related to Golan. Tensions flared at a press conference earlier this week when Golan was asked if she believed her presence at the event posed a safety threat to the other contestants and was told by a moderator she didn’t have to answer the question, prompting Klein to shout, “Why not?” But the EBU said in its statement about Klein’s exit: “contrary to some media reports and social media speculation, this incident did not involve any other performer or delegation member.”
20,000. That’s how many protesters Swedish police were expecting in Malmo on Saturday, according to the Times of Israel.
Croatia is the betting favorite to win the competition, though Israel has risen up the ranks to No. 2, according to Eurovision World, a website that tracks the competition's betting odds.