On Thursday, the 9th of May, Israel’s contestant Eden Golan performed “Hurricane” in front of approximately 9,000 audience members at the semi-finals of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest held in Malmo, the third-largest city in Sweden. Through public voting, Golan successfully advanced to the final round.
Originally titled “October Rain,” Golan’s competition song was considered to be referencing the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Israel in October last year. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) prohibited the song from participating citing a violation of political neutrality rules. Israel was permitted to participate after modifying the song title and lyrics.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Golan through a video posted on the social media platform X. He praised, “Not only did you participate in the contest in a proud and impressive manner, but you also successfully withstood the wave of ugly anti-Semitism, bringing great honor to the country of Israel.”
During a press conference after the semi-finals, a reporter asked, “Have you ever thought that being here might pose risks and danger for other contestants and the public?”
Despite being reminded by staff that Golan could refuse to answer, Golan responded that due to the war in Gaza, Israel faced protests. However, the European Song Contest held in Sweden was “safe for everyone.”
Earlier that day, thousands gathered for a protest march in the center of Malmo, demonstrating against the decision to allow Israel to participate while the military actions in Gaza continued. Protest groups are planning a larger demonstration on Saturday.
Among the protesters waving Palestinian flags in Malmo’s city square was environmental activist turned communist advocate Greta Thunberg.
In addition to the pro-Palestinian protests, there were over a hundred pro-Israel supporters under heavy police protection showing support for Golan.
While the protests were mostly peaceful, armed policemen guarded outside Golan’s hotel. When not performing on stage, Golan was requested to stay in the hotel room.
20-year-old Golan was born in Israel to parents both born in Jewish families in the former Soviet Union. In 2022, Golan moved back to Israel with parents from Russia. Golan had participated in the Russian qualifying round of the 2015 Eurovision Young Musicians competition, finishing fifth in the finals. This time, Golan is representing Israel in the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest.
The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest final will take place on Saturday, the 11th of May, at 9 p.m. local time. The final will feature all contestants who successfully advanced from the semi-finals, along with the “Big Five” consisting of the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Sweden, last year’s champion, will also automatically qualify for the final. The final will see 26 countries’ contestants vying for the top honor.
The 2024 Eurovision Song Contest final will be broadcast live on Saturday, the 11th of May, at 8 p.m. (British Summer Time) on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio2, and BBC Sounds.