Eurovision 2024 hit by protests over Israel taking part amid Gaza war

Malmo, Sweden — Not everybody was welcoming the Eurovision Track Contest to the Swedish metropolis of Malmo. Hundreds of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested within the Swedish port metropolis Thursday towards Israel’s participation within the pan-continental pop competitors. Protesters waving inexperienced, white and crimson Palestinian flags packed the historic Stortorget sq. close to Malmo’s Sixteenth-century city corridor earlier than a deliberate march by means of town for a rally in a park a number of miles from the Eurovision venue.

Chanting chanting and yelling slogans reminiscent of “Israel is a terror state,” the demonstrators set off smoke flares within the Palestinian colours throughout a loud however peaceable rally to criticize Israel and name for a cease-fire in its battle with Hamas.

The primary of these slogans chanted by the protesters is a extremely controversial reference to the creation of a Palestinian state, outlined by the Anti-Defamation League as an “antisemitic slogan generally featured in anti-Israel campaigns and chanted at demonstrations.”

Whereas many protesters reject the slogan being rooted in racism or calling for violence, the ADL says “it’s essentially a name for a Palestinian state extending from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, territory that features the State of Israel, which might imply the dismantling of the Jewish state… It’s an antisemitic cost denying the Jewish proper to self-determination, together with by means of the elimination of Jews from their ancestral homeland.”

There was a big police presence on the protest in Malmo on Thursday, with a helicopter hovering overhead and officers on rooftops with binoculars.

“It is essential to be right here,” mentioned Amani Eli-Ali, a Malmo resident of Palestinian heritage. “It isn’t okay for Sweden to rearrange this Eurovision and have Israel within the contest.”

Outrage over the continuing Israel-Hamas introduced a jarring juxtaposition to Eurovision week in Malmo. Music followers in colourful sequined outfits or draped of their nationwide flags blended within the streets with supporters of the Palestinian trigger in conventional keffiyeh scarves.

Palestinian flags fly from home windows and balconies alongside a pedestrianized thoroughfare that has been quickly renamed “Eurovision road.”

Professional-Palestinian teams plan to march once more on Saturday, the day of the Eurovision last.

Israel’s authorities warned its residents of a “tangible concern” that Israelis could possibly be focused for assault in Malmo through the contest.

Organizers, who say they attempt to hold Eurovision a non-political occasion, with this yr’s them being unity by means of music, have rejected calls to bar Israel over the conduct of its battle towards Hamas.

They did inform Israel to vary the lyrics of its entry, nonetheless, which was initially titled “October Rain,” in an obvious reference to Hamas’ cross-border Oct. 7 terrorist assault that killed some 1,200 Israelis and triggered the battle. The tune was renamed “Hurricane,” and Israeli singer Eden Golan was allowed to stay within the contest.

She was to compete in a semi-final Thursday night. Some viewers members attending a Wednesday costume rehearsal could possibly be heard to boo throughout Golan’s efficiency.

Critics of the choice to let Israel compete level out that Russia was kicked out of Eurovision in 2022 after its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and Belarus was ejected a yr earlier over its authorities’s crackdown on dissent.

“We’re imagined to be united by music however we’re not united, as a result of Israel is taking part,” mentioned Malmo resident Anders Trolle-Schultz, who attended the protest.

“I feel Malmo ought to have stored Eurovision, however we must always have informed Israel both ‘Keep away,’ or perhaps even say, why do not we invite a Palestinian music group to take part? That might be truthful.”

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