What's happened
Eden Golan, Israel's representative at the 2024 Eurovision Song Contest, faced significant controversy and protests due to her country's ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza. Golan's original song, 'October Rain,' was disqualified for political messaging and reworked as 'Hurricane.' Despite the backlash, Golan finished fifth in the competition held in Malmo, Sweden. Pro-Palestinian protests, including participation from climate activist Greta Thunberg, marked the event. Golan dedicated her performance to Israeli hostages held by Hamas. The contest saw a drop in viewership and was overshadowed by political tensions.
Why it matters
The controversy surrounding Israel's participation in Eurovision 2024 highlights the intersection of politics and entertainment. The event's significant protests and the disqualification of a contestant underscore the heightened tensions due to the Israel-Gaza conflict. This situation impacts the perception of international cultural events and raises questions about the role of politics in such platforms. For readers, this story illustrates how global conflicts can influence and disrupt even seemingly apolitical events like Eurovision, affecting both participants and audiences worldwide.
What the papers say
According to The Times of Israel, Eden Golan's performance at Eurovision was marked by significant protests and security concerns. The Independent reported on the disqualification of Dutch contestant Joost Klein and the broader controversy surrounding Israel's participation. The Guardian highlighted the drop in viewership and the protests led by figures like Greta Thunberg. Sky News provided details on the political statements made by other contestants and the European Broadcasting Union's efforts to maintain the non-political nature of the event.
How we got here
The Israel-Gaza conflict, which escalated following Hamas's attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and political tensions. Over 34,800 Palestinians and 1,400 Israelis have been killed, with many hostages taken by Hamas. The European Broadcasting Union allowed Israel to participate in Eurovision 2024 despite calls for a boycott. Eden Golan's original song, 'October Rain,' was deemed too political and reworked as 'Hurricane.' The event in Malmo, Sweden, saw significant protests and a drop in viewership, reflecting the broader geopolitical tensions.
Common question
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Olly Alexander's decision to participate in Eurovision despite Israel's involvement has sparked controversy and criticism. Let's delve into the reasons behind the backlash and explore the implications of this contentious issue.
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Why is there controversy surrounding Israel's participation in Eurovision?
Israel's Eden Golan is set to perform at Eurovision in Malmo, Sweden amidst controversy surrounding Israel's participation due to the ongoing conflict with Hamas. Protests are expected in Malmo against Israel's involvement in the event. The political backdrop of the event adds tension and raises questions about the impact of conflicts on cultural events.
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Why is Israel's Eurovision contestant facing backlash?
Israel's Eurovision contestant, Eden Golan, is facing backlash for her performance of the song 'Hurricane' in Malmo, Sweden. The controversy stems from the presence of pro-Palestinian messages and symbols at the event, sparking debates on freedom of expression and political activism in the music industry.
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Why has Israel's participation in Eurovision 2024 sparked controversy?
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 has been marred by controversy and protests, with Israel's involvement sparking demonstrations and calls for boycotts. Learn more about the reasons behind the heated reactions to Israel's participation.
More on these topics
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The Eurovision Song Contest is an international song competition organised annually by the European Broadcasting Union and featuring participants representing primarily European countries.
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Israel, formally known as the State of Israel, is a country in Western Asia, located on the southeastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the northern shore of the Red Sea.
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Sweden, officially the Kingdom of Sweden, is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It borders Norway to the west and north, Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark in the southwest by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund Strait.
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Hamas is a Palestinian Sunni-Islamic fundamentalist militant organization. It has a social service wing, Dawah, and a military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
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The European Broadcasting Union is an alliance of public service media organisations, established on 12 February 1950. The organisation is made up of 115 member organisations in 56 countries, and 34 associate members from a further 21 countries.
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Bambie Ray Robinson, known by their stage name Bambie Thug, is an Irish singer-songwriter. They are known to mix numerous genres in their music, coining their own term, "ouija-pop", out of disdain for being put into one genre.
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Eden Golan (Hebrew: עדן גולן; born 5 October 2003) is an Israeli singer. She is set to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024.
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Eric Khaled Saade (Swedish: [ˈêːrɪk saˈâːdɛ]; Arabic: إريك سعادة, romanized: ʾĪrik Saʿāda, IPA: [ˈʔiːrik saˈʕaːdɐ]; born 29 October 1990), is a Swedish singer and songwriter.
He spent two years with the boy band What's Up!, lea
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The Palestinian people, also referred to as Palestinians or Palestinian Arabs, are an ethnonational group comprising the modern descendants of the peoples who have lived in Palestine continuously over the centuries and who today are largely culturally and
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Switzerland, officially the Swiss Confederation, is a country situated in the confluence of Western, Central, and Southern Europe. It is a federal republic composed of 26 cantons, with federal authorities based in Bern.
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Joost Klein, known mononymously as Joost, is a Dutch musician, rapper, singer and former YouTuber. Mainly a hip hop artist, his songs and performances often include influences of electronic music, such as drum and bass, hardstyle and gabber.
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The Gaza Strip, or simply Gaza, is a self-governing Palestinian territory on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea, that borders Egypt on the southwest for 11 kilometers and Israel on the east and north along a 51 km border.