Press
The Eurovision Song Contest actually stands for a party atmosphere. But the Israel conflict is casting dark clouds over the event in Malmö.
Malmö – Because Sweden with Loreen ESC won in 2023, Malmö is the venue this year. It is already the third time after 1992 and 2013 – but the honor of hosting has been tarnished. The Israel conflict is also causing fronts in Sweden. It is therefore not surprising that this time Israel’s contribution faced headwinds from the start. Due to the Gaza war, many people even called for Israel to be excluded from the ESC. However, the organizer, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), allowed participation. Reason: The ESC is apolitical.
For the Israeli singer Eden Golan, participation apparently represents a security risk. As the Picture reports, the 20-year-old should only be allowed to leave her hotel in Sweden for rehearsals, appearances and press appointments – otherwise it is too dangerous for her. According to Swedish media reports, the Israeli Shin Bet secret service is taking care of their security on site.
Eden Golan and “October Rain”: Israel’s contribution needed a new text
There had been some excitement in advance about Eden Golan’s contribution. The EBU then considered the first text submitted to be too political. She saw in “October Rain” references to the massacres carried out by Palestinian terrorists in Israel on October 7th. The lyrics were revised, the song is now called “Hurricane” and was approved. According to Israeli media, the candidate wears a dress at the shows with a top reminiscent of wound dressings.
I was a bit shocked when the EBU didn’t approve the song.
“I was a bit shocked when the EBU didn’t approve the song,” says Golan himself. “The song is about a girl who is going through her own problems and feelings, it has nothing to do with October 7th.” Commentators see it differently. In her opinion, lines like “There is no air left to breathe” or “They were all good children, every single one of them” clearly refer to the victims Hamas.
The rewritten version also contains lines that can be understood as a reference to the collective trauma of the Israelis. “I’m still broken from this hurricane,” they say, for example. The new text allows for different interpretations, says Golan. “Everyone who hears it can identify with the song on their own level.” Golan’s Eurovision entry is very popular in her homeland, and her music videos are constantly shown on Israeli television.
The selection of ESC participants is always controversial
The selection of participants in the Eurovision Song Contest is always controversial. In the past, entries were accepted despite clear political statements, including the 1982 German winning song “A Bit of Peace” by singer Nicole or the Ukrainian song “1944” by winner Jamala in 2016, which refers to the deportation of the Crimean Tatars.
Beyond all textual questions, Sweden’s security authorities are alarmed. As much as the song contest emphasizes year after year that it is a non-political event, the shadow of the Gaza war cannot be kept away from the colorful show spectacle. More than 100,000 visitors are expected. “Malmö is the focal point of Europe this week,” says Christer Mattsson, professor of anti-Semitism research in Gothenburg.
According to experts, Malmö has a problem with anti-Semitism
Also a focal point because, according to experts, Malmö has a problem with anti-Semitism. After the outbreak of the War in Israel and Gaza this became even more visible. “There were caravans with Palestinian flags shouting and cheering. Caravans of cars drove through the city and celebrated after the attacks,” recalls Fredrik Sieradzki from the Jewish community in Malmö. Since then there have been many demonstrations against Israel. Demos have also been announced on the day of the final – pro-Palestinian and also pro-Israeli. Thousands of participants are expected.
They are so caught up that they don’t realize the hate they are using.
Malmö is a compact city. A lot of things happen in the city center. “So you can see the problem on the street, which you can’t do so much in Stockholm or Gothenburg,” says Björn Westerström, researcher on the city’s project against anti-Semitism. The southern Swedish city has 360,000 residents, many of whom are of Palestinian descent. Westerström emphasizes that the anti-Israel and quickly also anti-Jewish sentiment does not necessarily come from specific groups of people. People from different backgrounds got involved. “They don’t see the anti-Semitism. They are so caught up that they don’t realize the hate they are using.”
Sweden’s domestic secret service does not rule out Islamist attacks
Swedish security expert and former senior police officer Jörgen Holmlund is “worried” about the situation on the streets, as he told our newspaper. “I think the event in Malmö will attract massive attention in the pro-Palestinian camp.” The Swedish domestic secret service Säpo is on the alert for possible Islamist attacks. Koran burnings could bring further explosiveness to the city.
The first one took place on Friday. Videos on social networks show a man and a woman setting fire to a Palestinian flag. The fact that such a provocative action was approved shortly before the ESC caused criticism. However, burning the Koran is covered by freedom of expression in Sweden.
We’re just a bunch of dudes who get together and make music.
The German ESC participant Isaak (29) complained to ZDFheute.de about the angry mood. “I’m accused of being an ‘accomplice in the genocide in Gaza’ if I don’t boycott the ESC,” he said, adding: “Now pull yourself together, people, have you been drinking paint? We’re just a bunch of dudes getting together and making music.”
Just music, it won’t be like that. “You will see police officers equipped with the usual weapons, but also with heavier weapons,” said Police Chief Petra Stenkulla. People in Sweden and Malmö are not used to this, but the police have to “take precautionary measures” to be prepared for a “serious incident”. Reinforcements from Denmark and Norway were also requested. A public ESC party was canceled.
Holmlund expects up to 100,000 protesters on the ESC days – the event will last the whole week due to the semi-finals. “Most of them will choose harsh words and wave flags, but within the framework of freedom of expression,” predicts the lecturer at the Swedish Defense University in Stockholm. The great danger is that supporters of “radical movements” will mingle with the peaceful demonstrators. The “big challenge” is keeping these groups away or isolating them. “If they have the opportunity, they will carry out attacks on the police, the event or, in this context, on the Israeli performance,” warns Holmlund.
Sweden raises terror alert level
Koran burnings had already taken place before the Swedish election in 2022 and in the struggle for Sweden NATO-Accession caused a stir – including riots abroad. For Thursday alone, according to the Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet a pro-Israel and a pro-Palestinian demo are planned in Malmö. The burning of the Koran on Friday took place at the central Gustavs-Adolfs-Torg. All of this comes at a time when Sweden is already worried about terrorism. In August, Holmlund says, police increased the threat level to 4 on a scale of 1 to 5. Holmlund still advocates freedom of expression. Preventing protests per se is the wrong approach.
Anticipation is hard to come by in Malmö. “Many Jews simply hoped that the matter would pass without major incident,” said Fredrik Sieradzki of the Jewish community. “The ESC should be a celebration of creativity, fun, great music. But Malmö will be a place where a lot of angry feelings will be shown on the street.”
Eden Golan doesn’t want to let the competition spoil him. “I’m really happy and very excited,” says the singer. She doesn’t even rule out a win: “I believe anything is possible.” (Melissa Erichsen, Florian Naumann, AFP, KNA, wha)
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