After a start in the shadow of the Gaza war, the final of the Eurovision Song Contest begins on Saturday in Malmö, Sweden, in which representatives from 26 countries will compete against each other.
Up to 30,000 demonstrators are expected to protest against Israel’s participation in the contest for its offensive in Gaza on Thursday when the country’s representative, Eden Golan, takes part in the second semi-final.
In the large line-up of original acts, Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine are the favorites to win the affair characterized by kitsch and rhinestones.
Malmö Arena is all about neon lights, bright costumes and upbeat tunes.
Outside, despite the colorful decorations along the streets, the mood is more somber as heavily armed police patrol the city.
The Gaza war was sparked by Hamas’s unprecedented attack on Israel on October 7, which resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.
The militants also took about 250 hostages. Israel estimates there are 128 of them still in Gaza, including 36 who officials say are dead.
Israel then vowed to crush Hamas and launched a military offensive that killed at least 34,844 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry of the Hamas-controlled territory.
Since October there have been regular pro-Palestinian rallies in Malmö, where the majority of Sweden’s population of Palestinian origin lives.
Across the port city of more than 360,000, colorful banners compete for attention with Palestinian flags hanging from windows and balconies.
Organizers have banned all flags other than those of participating countries in the arena, as well as any banners with a political message.
– “Politics is everywhere” –
Last year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the competition, banned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from speaking at the arena to preserve the neutrality of the event.
That neutrality was challenged in the first semifinal on Tuesday by Swedish singer Eric Saade, who performed with a keffiyeh wrapped around his arm during the competition’s opening number.
Swedish broadcaster SVT and the EBU condemned his gesture and stressed the non-political nature of the popular music festival, which is more often associated with flashy performances.
“It’s just a whole world of its own. It’s a very happy, colorful world, a world where I feel safe,” said Nemo, a Swiss artist who identifies as non-binary and is a favorite.
Malmö is expecting up to 100,000 visitors and for fans of the competition “what is important is what is on stage,” Andreas Onnerfors, professor of the history of ideas and Eurovision specialist, told AFP.
The almost 70-year-old Eurovision is “a colorful mix of people, a demonstration of European tolerance that does not exist in any other form or in any other place,” he emphasized.
However, for the artists representing Ukraine, “politics is everywhere.”
“Culture is part of politics, so every song is political,” rapper Aliona Savranenko, known by her stage name Alyona Alyona, told AFP over the weekend.
“There should be demonstrations, people should express their opinions, people should boycott,” Magnus Bormark, who is running for Norway with his group Gate, told AFP.
Gate, like eight other candidates, has publicly called for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Representatives of some countries considered boycotting the competition in protest against Israel’s participation, but ultimately decided against it.
– ‘Intensification’ –
Security is a major concern, especially as Sweden raised its terror alert level last year after a series of protests involving Koran desecrations.
Security controls have been tightened, particularly at access to the various locations, where bags are largely prohibited.
The police presence was also increased with reinforcements from Norway and Denmark.
But police spokesman Jimmy Modin said the first few days of Eurovision week had been quiet and there had been no threat to the competition.
Some members of the Jewish community are planning to leave the city for the weekend.
“With the Eurovision Song Contest there is a kind of tightening. The feeling of insecurity has increased after October 7 and many Jews are worried,” said Fredrik Sieradzki, a spokesman for local group The Jewish Community of Malmö.
“I can’t really be happy about the Eurovision Song Contest, even if we as a community think it’s good that everyone is welcome here in Malmö, including Israel,” he added.
Security measures around the synagogue were tightened while threats were made on social media against Israeli singer Golan.
As the final begins at 9:00 p.m. (1900 GMT) on Saturday, activists will organize the first edition of Falastinvision in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
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