Despite facing months of anti-Israel protests, Eden Golan from Israel advanced to the grand final of the Eurovision on Thursday night in Malmo, Sweden. Her song “Hurricane” earned her a spot in the final, where she is expected to finish in the top 10 according to oddsmakers. Golan’s performance faced some boos from the audience, but these noises were blocked out in the live broadcast by anti-boo technology employed by the European Broadcasting Union. Golan expressed her gratitude after her performance, thanking the audience.
In a press conference following the show, Golan shared her feelings of being overwhelmed with emotions and expressed her honor in representing her country on the Eurovision stage. She was also questioned about the safety concerns surrounding her participation, to which she emphasized the importance of unity and safety in such events.
Despite the challenges and threats, Golan has been accompanied by heavy security throughout the competition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent his best wishes to Golan, commending her for her courage in the face of adversity.
Meanwhile, protests against Israel’s participation were held in Malmo, with a significant anti-Israel rally gathering thousands of attendees. The start of the show in Belgium was also interrupted by an anti-Israel message endorsed by a trade union within the country’s public broadcaster.
Despite these challenges, Golan and nine other countries qualified for the grand final, which will take place on Saturday evening. The event is expected to draw more attention and possibly more protests.
