Protests, criticisms, boycotts over Israel's participation in Eurovision Song Contest

By Melike Pala

ANKARA (AA) – Protests, criticisms, and boycotts over Israel's participation in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, shifted attention away from the world's most famous music contest and toward the daily killings of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, which has been under siege since Oct. 7 of last year, killing nearly 35,000 people.

On the final day of the competition, which will take place in Malmo on Saturday evening, Israeli representative Eden Golan will perform "Hurricane" as part of her country's finale.

Videos of Golan being booed by spectators and protested with "Free Palestine" slogans during rehearsals and live broadcasts in the second semifinal went viral on social media.

While high-level security measures were implemented in the city and arena due to Israel's participation, contestants who express support for Palestine are being censored by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Amer Begovic, a spectator at the Eurovision Song Contest 2024, was stopped by security after chanting the "Free Palestine" slogan during a protest against Israel's participation in the contest.

"I don't think Israel should be participating in Eurovision this year. Eurovision is a contest that was made to promote peace and to promote unity," Begovic told Anadolu.

"I come from Bosnia and Herzegovina. As a country that has gone through a genocide, it's really hard for me to accept the fact that we have a singer (from Israel) on the stage that is performing (despite) what is happening in Gaza right now," he said.

Begovic also claimed that Israeli state television KAN violated about 60 rules this year.

"So, if a broadcaster or a country violates the rules, they should be banned,” he said, adding that Israel has broken approximately 60 rules this season and year, including showing military content during their national final, as well as censoring and protesting various artists.

- Eurovision not political contest

Begovic pointed out that comments like "Eurovision is not a political contest" are only valid if they do not contradict the broadcaster or the contest.

"EBU and Eurovision are only not political when it fits their agenda," he explained.

"It makes sense why EBU would not ban Israel, because it's simply money and it's simply politics," Begovic said, noting that the contest's main sponsor is an Israeli company.

"There have been huge military cars, like ones that I've never seen anything like that before... there are snipers on top of buildings. So the security is really intense ... Like If Israel wasn't participating this year, none of the security would have to be there because then it would just be a contest about peace and content about music," he said.

- Pressure on pro-Palestinian spectators

Begovic said during Israel's rehearsals, some spectators unfurled banned Palestinian flags and chanted "Free Palestine" slogans, and then security personnel intervened immediately.

His colleagues brought a Palestinian flag. While waving the Palestinian flag, security spotted them and escorted them out of the arena, he said, adding that the flag was taken away. After five minutes, they were permitted to return, "but without the flag."

Begovic said that he also chanted the "Free Palestine" slogan during rehearsals and was warned by a security guard to stop or he would be thrown out of the arena.

"It obviously did not stop me. I don't get intimidated easily and I believe in freedom of speech. So I continued chanting," he said.

Although Israel was booed by spectators throughout its rehearsals and the semi-final, Begovic noted that these were not heard during the live broadcast, suggesting the use of some kind of technology (muffling the boos and providing fake applause) because the sounds heard were very different.

- ‘End of Eurovision’

Begovic said if Israel won this year, it would be the "end of Eurovision" because he believes they would be unable to recover from such an outcome.

"If Israel wins Eurovision during what is happening right now, that would cause massive protests and massive boycott against Eurovision forever," he said.

The press members covering the contest do not support Israeli singer Golan's participation, he added.

He said, "I would say more than 50% of media is not hyping up this entry, is not cheering during the performances of this entry and is not interacting with Aden's team at all. Because once Aden comes to give statements in the press room, a lot of media outlets are not even interested in trying to get an interview because they don't want to cover Israel's participation in this year's Eurovision."

*Writing by Gizem Nisa Cebi in Istanbul