The fact that Israel made it to the show’s final round, which happens on Saturday, comes amidst widespread demonstrations in Malmo, Sweden, the host city this year.
Eden Golan, 20, sings Israel’s song Hurricane. The original version, October Rain, was deemed too political by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which thought portions of the lyrics alluded to the Hamas attacks on Israel on October 7. As a result, the song had to be modified.
Some people think that a few lines from the current song, such as “Dancin’ in the storm,” I’m still traumatized by this hurricane,” alludes to assaults that occurred seven months prior and claimed more lives.
At an earlier Tuesday rehearsal, Golan was greeted with jeers and shouts of “Free Palestine,” and someone in the audience seems to have taken down their Palestinian flag in the theater.
