The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Protests plan as Israel into contest final
The Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden will see more pro-Palestinian protests after Israel qualified for the final tonight.
Eden Golan, 20, whose emotional song Hurricane was reworked from a previous track called October Rain, thought to reference the Hamas attacks on Israel, won in the semi-final on Thursday evening in Malmo Arena.
She was congratulated by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said he was “proud” of the young star.
Rishi Sunak thinks the demonstrations are “wrong” and called the push for a boycott of Israel “unfair”, a spokeswoman for the prime minister said.
The Swedish Police Authority said a crowd of 10-12,000 pro-Palestinian protesters marched “peacefully” through Malmo that night.
The demonstrators were condemning Israel taking part in Eurovision amid the conflict in Gaza, and among them was climate activist Greta Thunberg.
Police said nine people were warned about “disturbing the public order” and one man was arrested allegedly carrying a knife and tools in his bag.
The force has approved two demonstrations – both pro-Palestinian – for tonight, when the UK’s Olly Alexander competes in the final alongside Ireland’s Bambie Thug.
Alexander and Bambie, along with other Eurovision artists, released a statement in March backing a lasting ceasefire in Gaza but refusing to boycott the song contest.
A journalist asked Golan: “Have you ever thought that by being here you bring risk and danger for other participants and public?”
She said: “I think we’re all here for one reason and one reason only and the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) is taking all safety precautions.”
The organiser said it will not “censor” the audience and encouraged the crowd to “attend in the spirit of the contest, embracing its values of inclusivity, celebrating diversity and being united by music”.
Golan said on Instagram she is “going to continue to show up and perform and remind everyone that we are here to stay”.
The EBU, whose members approved Israeli broadcaster Kan, has traditionally taken a strong stance against political messages and flags and symbols from noncompeting countries.