The Eurovision Song Contest Faces a Challenging Final
The Eurovision Song Contest's final began in Vienna on Saturday, but the event was overshadowed by the boycott of five nations over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Despite the tensions, Israel's entrant, 28-year-old Noam Bettan, performed without any obvious signs of protest from the audience.
Bettan, who is not considered a strong contender for the win, delivered a love ballad titled "Michelle" in Hebrew, French, and English. He was accompanied by five female dancers dressed in black and white costumes. This year's competition, now in its 70th edition, has faced significant challenges due to the dispute surrounding Israel's military actions in Gaza, which were a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023.
Several major public broadcasters, including those from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia, have opted out of the contest as a form of protest against Israel's participation. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez expressed his stance on social media, stating, "We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history."
Finland's entry, "Liekinheitin," or Flamethrower, featuring violinist Linda Lampenius and pop singer Pete Parkkonen on a burning set, is currently the favorite. Australia's "Eclipse," performed by Delta Goodrem, is also a strong contender.
Israel has accused the international community of launching a smear campaign against it. The situation has led to one of the smallest Eurovision contests in two decades.
The October 7 attack resulted in at least 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians. In response, Israel launched an assault on Gaza, which has claimed over 72,000 Palestinian lives, predominantly civilians, and caused extensive damage to the region.
The boycotts have reduced the number of participating countries to 35, the lowest since 2003. This is expected to significantly lower the global television viewership of the event, which last year attracted 166 million viewers—more than the Super Bowl's 128 million. On Saturday, 25 countries, including Israel, will take part in the final.
Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green addressed the press before the show, acknowledging the challenging times the event is facing. He also issued a formal warning to Israel's public broadcaster KAN regarding an appeal in videos posted online by its contestant to vote for him the maximum 10 times. KAN stated that it adheres to the rules and that the videos were removed.
The contest's voting rules were tightened last year in response to concerns about an Israeli advertising campaign that may have influenced the outcome. Israel finished second after receiving a massive public vote, which gave it far more points than it earned from national juries.
Green encouraged viewers to set aside the world's problems during the show, which started at 9 p.m. CET (1900 GMT). "Just for a moment, well maybe 4-1/2 hours, maybe close the curtains to the outside world and dream that something else is possible," he said.
Protests in Vienna Remain Small
The mood in the Austrian capital has been tense and subdued, with protests over Israel's participation drawing only small crowds. Police anticipated potential disruptions but the planned "blockades and disruption attempts" did not occur. A protest near the venue attracted just a few hundred people, much fewer than the 3,000 organizers had expected.
There was a brief disruption during Tuesday's semi-final when one protester chanted "Stop, stop the genocide" and "Free, free Palestine" within range of a television microphone. He and three others were removed from the arena for disruptive behavior, according to a joint statement from the European Broadcasting Union and Austrian national broadcaster ORF.
Bettan mentioned hearing some booing as he took the stage on Tuesday.
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