In the seven decades of Eurovision's history, it's improbable that a three-word catchphrase has been echoed so frequently by the song contest's flamboyant participants, tireless coordinators, or astute media handlers: They assert that the globe can be "Unified through Music."
However, Malmo, the Swedish city serving as the backdrop for this year's ostentatious cultural spectacle, finds itself increasingly polarized by Eurovision - and as the climactic grand final looms on Saturday, organizers are grappling to contain the turmoil surrounding Israel's involvement before it overshadows the occasion.
Israeli contender Eden Golan encountered jeers from segments of the audience during her semifinal performance and in public dress rehearsals this week, yet she advanced to Saturday's main event.
Several of her fellow competitors have also voiced reservations about the nation's participation, while substantial pro-Palestinian demonstrations have unfolded in Malmo to coincide with the inaugural Eurovision live broadcasts.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu extended congratulations to Golan via a video message for her resilience in the face of what he labeled as "a repugnant surge of antisemitism," all the while "representing the state of Israel with utmost dignity."
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the entity orchestrating the competition, has made concerted efforts to steer attention towards the performers, but dissenters have clamored for a boycott of the event due to their refusal to exclude Israel amidst its conflict with Hamas in Gaza.
Moreover, on Thursday, following Golan's confirmation as a finalist, the very tangible possibility of Israel clinching victory in the competition emerged - a scenario that would present significant challenges for the EBU and confer upon Israel the privilege of hosting next year's event.
Israel soars among bookmakers
Saturday’s Eurovision final will be witnessed by over 150 million viewers globally on television and approximately 15,000 enthusiasts gathered within the confines of the Malmo Arena. However, the concert might rank as the second-best attended affair in the city that evening; a pro-Palestinian demonstration, advocating for the expulsion of Israel from the competition, anticipates a turnout of at least 20,000 attendees, potentially even more.
The competition - which fervently endeavors to uphold its "apolitical" label - has emerged as the most prominent cultural occasion thus far to be shaken by the reverberations of Israel’s conflict in Gaza. Israel’s military offensive has resulted in the deaths of more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza since its initiation in response to Hamas’ attacks on Israel on October 7, during which at least 1,200 individuals perished and over 250 were taken captive. Those who protest or advocate for a boycott of the song contest assert that it is "artwashing" the conflict; conversely, others defend Israel’s participation, contending that the competition ought not to be entangled in geopolitical affairs.
"Politics does exert influence over the event on occasion," remarked Paul Jordan, a devoted fan and researcher of the contest who served on its communications team from 2015 to 2018, in a conversation with CNN. However, this year, "the presence of Israel has escalated into such a significant issue that I believe it will cast a shadow over the proceedings," he opined.
Weeks of simmering tension surrounding the matter reached a crescendo in Malmo this week, preceding the semi-finals of the contest on Tuesday and Thursday. These tensions culminate in perhaps the most tense three minutes in the contest's history, when Israel's contender, Eden Golan, takes to the stage.
And moments thereafter, she surged to second place in the odds of some bookmakers for the grand final, following a segment from the Italian broadcast that circulated on social media.
Italy's broadcaster, RAI, seemingly disclosed the outcomes of its public televote during their live broadcast, an action that national networks are typically prohibited from undertaking. The results revealed that Israel had garnered 39% of the Italian public's vote in the 16-strong semi-final, emerging victorious among Italian voters by a wide margin.
Should Israel emerge triumphant on Saturday, it would earn the privilege of hosting next year's contest. Noel Curran, the director general of the EBU, informed CNN that in such an event, the EBU "will adhere to our customary procedures," engaging in discussions with the Israeli broadcaster KAN to coordinate logistical arrangements.
Nonetheless, such an outcome would present significant challenges for the EBU, ensuring that the competition remains ensnared in geopolitics and controversy for yet another year, thereby complicating efforts to maintain the support of fellow broadcasters.
Following Ukraine's victory in 2022, the nation did not serve as the host of the event due to Russia's invasion, prompting the United Kingdom, the runner-up, to host a celebratory edition of the contest on behalf of Kyiv. The EBU may seek to broker a similar compromise if Israel's conflict with Hamas persists at the time of planning the event; however, it could encounter difficulties in securing a nation willing to host on behalf of Israel, given the anticipated backlash from segments of the Eurovision community.
An increasingly political song contest
It's challenging to penetrate the festive atmosphere that envelops the competition annually. However, even amidst Eurovision's carefully curated participants, there are whispers of discontent this time around.
"I find it frustrating. I completely disagree with it. It doesn't make any sense," remarked Bambie Thug, Ireland's representative, to CNN regarding the stringent regulations prohibiting any form of pro-Palestinian expression during the event.
The vocalist had previously issued a statement rejecting calls for a boycott, expressing their intention to instead offer a "pro-Palestinian perspective" in Malmo. They informed CNN that Israel's participation in the competition was an "inappropriate decision."
Established by the EBU in 1956 as a project aimed at fostering unity among national broadcasters, Eurovision has weathered and navigated the continent's geopolitical currents for decades. It provides an unparalleled platform for soft power projection to member states with questionable human rights records, such as Azerbaijan and, until two years ago, Russia.
However, this year poses the greatest challenge yet for the EBU, which opted against excluding Israel due to the country's conflict in Gaza, whereas Russia was disqualified following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years prior – a divergent approach that sparked accusations of double standards.
"The situations are in no way comparable," asserted Curran, the EBU's director general, in an interview with CNN, emphasizing that Israel's national broadcaster KAN did not violate the contest's regulations as Russia did, which is the ultimate criterion for participation in the contest.
"If we begin arbitrarily excluding participants based on geopolitical circumstances or ongoing crises around the world, then each year we'll face demands for someone else to be excluded – whether it's Azerbaijan or another country," remarked Curran.
"We strive to maintain the contest as apolitical as possible," he added. "But it's a challenging task."
His statement may be an understatement. Publicists representing a spectrum of Europe's most unconventional musical talents in Malmo have exercised particular caution, shielding their clients from inquiries related to the protests occurring just a stone's throw away from their accommodations.
CNN requested an interview with Golan, Israel's representative, for this article, only to be informed that it would be arranged solely if CNN provided the questions in advance, a departure from standard journalistic norms.
The EBU was compelled to intervene when Golan's initial song submission, "October Rain," was deemed too closely linked to Hamas' attacks on Israel on October 7.
Additionally, the EBU has exerted considerable effort to prevent dissent from infiltrating the Malmo Arena. Long-standing regulations prohibiting flags of non-participating countries and territories mean that Palestinian flags are prohibited from the audience, a decision vehemently opposed by Bambie Thug, who told CNN they "completely" disagreed with it.
Furthermore, artists are prohibited from making statements, although some may risk their broadcaster incurring fines to do so, as Iceland's entry did in 2019 by displaying Palestinian flags during the contest held in Israel.
"We would strongly discourage that, obviously," remarked Curran. "It's not something we want artists to engage in, and it's explicitly stated in the rules that they should not and cannot do so."
When queried by CNN, the EBU did not rule out adjusting audio levels during the broadcast to drown out any booing that might occur during the Israeli performance.
However, despite all their efforts, Eurovision organizers will hold their breath as Golan takes the stage in Saturday's grand final.
"The real concern would be any threat of violence, particularly directed at the performers," Jordan expressed. "The worst-case scenario would be a stage invasion." Such an incident transpired during the United Kingdom's performance in 2018, when an individual seized the microphone from singer SuRie and shouted a message before being apprehended.
‘It has divided the city’
As Malmo endeavored to orchestrate a week-long array of events and performances to commemorate Eurovision, it encountered an obstacle: performers kept withdrawing, succumbing to pressure from pro-Palestinian factions advocating for a boycott of the contest.
"It has created division within the city, to some extent," acknowledged Karin Karlsson, responsible for organizing the events in Malmo. "I don't believe boycotting will resolve any issues related to the conflict in Gaza," she remarked.
In total, she stated that 20 artists had withdrawn from performing in the city. Nevertheless, Karlsson remains resolute. "I sleep peacefully," she affirmed. "I aim to showcase a vibrant, highly diverse city where we can coexist while holding differing views."
She remains hopeful that Malmo is making progress towards achieving that objective. "However, one can never be certain. The situation is currently uncertain."
Her endeavors may have been complicated by the selection of the host city. "Malmo has a history of defiance and solidarity, and it's a city of the working class. However, the municipal administration has endeavored to rebrand Malmo as a more globally-oriented city," remarked Elina Pahnke, a culture correspondent for the Aftonbladet newspaper, based in Malmo.
This has caused tensions with certain residents, she noted, who prefer resources and attention to be directed towards public services rather than international extravaganzas.
Additionally, the city harbors substantial Muslim and Palestinian communities. Weekly pro-Palestinian demonstrations have been ongoing since Israel's conflict in Gaza commenced in October, and the protest during Saturday's live final could potentially be the largest since the initial weeks of the conflict.
"We aim to convey to the EBU that the residents of Malmo reject their attempt to sanitize art," asserted Mohammad Ghannam, a key figure in the movement to boycott Eurovision as part of Sweden's Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) group.
A substantial security operation is underway; a spokesperson for the Swedish police informed CNN that it is one of the most extensive operations ever undertaken in Malmo, involving officers from Denmark and Norway in addition to Sweden.
Last week, Israel's National Security Council elevated its travel advisory for Malmo, advising Israelis planning to attend Eurovision to reconsider their plans. It cited "genuine concern that terrorists may exploit the protest and the anti-Israel sentiment to launch an attack on Israelis," portraying Malmo as a focal point for "anti-Israel protests."
Lara Yosef, a 30-year-old Syrian migrant residing in Malmo who plans to participate in Saturday's demonstration, asserted that when she encounters Eurovision advertisements in her city, "I see blood."
"I hope that some performers will defy expectations and make statements on stage," Yosef expressed.
Amidst these tensions, some artists have reported experiencing online harassment and abuse, while others have commended the pro-Palestinian demonstrators. "More power to them for protesting," remarked Bambie Thug, before their publicist swiftly redirected the conversation back to their music.
Nevertheless, many others are striving to tune out what is becoming an increasingly distracting cacophony, aligning themselves with Eurovision's organizers in offering cautiously worded remarks. "Our hearts go out to all those who assert that war is terrible," stated Ukrainian contestant Alyona Alyona. "Because who else but us can truly understand the horror of war?"
