For Israel’s contestant, the Eurovision Song Contest comes with tight security, boos and cheers

1 of 22 |

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement in support of Israel’s Eurovision Song Contest participant after she was booed during rehearsals for her performance in the competition’s semifinal.

2 of 22 |

Eden Golan of Israel performs the song Hurricane during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

3 of 22 |

Eden Golan representing Israel gestures during a press meeting with the entries that advanced to the final after the second semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmö Arena, in Malmö, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Jessica Gow/TT News Agency via AP)

4 of 22 |

Eden Golan of Israel arrives on stage for the introducing of the artists during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

5 of 22 |

Eden Golan of Israel performs the song Hurricane during the second semi-final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

6 of 22 |

Nemo of Switzerland performing the song The Code during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

7 of 22 |

People carry Israeli and Swedish flags during a pro-Israel demonstration to pay tribute to Israel’s Eurovision participant Eden Golan in Malmö, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024. In addition to the pro-Israel demonstration, Stop Israel also held a demonstration targeting Israel’s participation in the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) in Malmö Arena. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

8 of 22 |

Pro-Palestinian protester waves a Palestinian flag at Hyllie arena ahead of the second semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest at Malmö Arena, in Malmö, Sweden, Thursday, May 09, 2024. (Andreas Hillergren/TT News Agency via AP)

9 of 22 |

Police use pepper spray and fight back pro-Palestinian protesters in central Malmö, Sweden, during the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö Arena, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Johan Nilsson/TT News Agency via AP)

10 of 22 |

Joost Klein representing the Netherlands with the song “Europapa,” smiles at a press conference with the entries that advanced to the final after the second semi-final of the 68th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest at the Malmö Arena, in Malmö, Sweden, Thursday, May 9, 2024. (Jessica Gow/TT News Agency via AP)

11 of 22 |

Joost Klein of Netherlands arrives on stage for the introducing of the artists at the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. Klein’s performance was cancelled for unknown reasons, he was supposed to perform before Israel. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

12 of 22 |

Marina Satti of Greece performing the song ZARI during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

13 of 22 |

Raiven of Slovenia performs the song Veronika during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

14 of 22 |

Kaleen of Austria performing the song We Will Rave during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

15 of 22 |

Swedish last year’s winner Loreen sings during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

16 of 22 |

iolanda of Portugal performs the song Grito during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

17 of 22 |

Windows95man of Finland performs the song No Rules! during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

18 of 22 |

Olly Alexander of United Kingdom performs the song Dizzy during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

19 of 22 |

Nutsa Buzaladze of Georgia performing the song Firefighter during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

20 of 22 |

Olly Alexander of United Kingdom performs the song Dizzy during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

21 of 22 |

Bambie Thug of Ireland performs the song Doomsday Blue during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

22 of 22 |

Baby Lasagna of Croatia performs the song Rim Tim Tagi Dim during the dress rehearsal for the final at the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmo, Sweden, Friday, May 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

By JILL LAWLESS

MALMO, Sweden (AP) — Eden Golan is in Sweden for the Eurovision Song Contest, but she isn’t seeing much of the country.

The 20-year-old Israeli singer is surrounded by security as she travels between hotel and the contest venue in the city of Malmo. According to Israel’s public broadcaster, she practiced singing while being booed to prepare for her performance in the pan-continental song competition.

Golan has become a focus for protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who want Israel kicked out of Eurovision over the war with Hamas, which has killed almost 35,000 people in Gaza. The war began with Hamas’ surprise attack into southern Israel in October, in which the militant group killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage.

A crowd estimated by police at more than 10,000 marched through the southern Swedish city on Thursday to chants of “Free Palestine” and “Israel is a terror state.” Banners accused Eurovision of being complicit in genocide and called for a boycott of the competition.

Another protest march is planned for Saturday, hours before Golan competes in the live Eurovision final against acts from 25 other countries.

Not PARSE.LY: Eurovision Song Contest

No amends for Joost Klein: Dutch go back to Eurovision Song Contest but singer declines to rejoin

Swiss city of Basel is chosen to host next year’s Eurovision Song Contest

Swiss city of Basel selected as host city for next year’s Eurovision Song Contest, organizers say

The participation of one of those 25, the Netherlands’ Joost Klein, was in doubt after he failed to perform at a dress rehearsal on Friday where he was slotted to appear just before Israel. Contest organizer the European Broadcasting Union gave no explanation but said it was “currently investigating an incident that was reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not be rehearsing until further notice.” It was unclear whether his absence was related to Israel’s participation.

The EBU later said the investigation was “still ongoing” and Klein would not perform at Friday’s second dress rehearsal, which is used by juries in all Eurovision countries to award scores. It said he would be judged on his performance from Thursday’s semifinal instead.

Israel is allowed to compete in Eurovision, even though it’s not in Europe, because its national broadcaster belongs to the European Broadcasting Union, whose membership extends beyond the continent.

Golan has largely stayed out of sight in Malmo, apart from rehearsals and performances at the Malmo Arena. While other performers have taken the stage for fans in a Eurovision park in the city, Golan has not.

She was one of 10 acts who made it through Thursday’s semifinal, which was decided by votes from Eurovision viewers around the world. Golan has been greeted with a smattering of boos, as well as applause, from spectators in the arena. Bookmakers say she is likely to finish in the top half of the final competition, decided by a mix of public votes and national music-industry juries.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Golan for performing despite “contending with an ugly wave of antisemitism.”

“So be blessed, and know that when they boo you, we are cheering you on,” he said.

Golan’s song is a powerful ballad titled “Hurricane” — but that wasn’t its original name. The song was first called “October Rain,” an apparent reference to the Oct. 7 Hamas attack. That fell foul of contest rules banning “political” content.

The retitled song contains less specific lyrics about going through a tough time, and asserts that “love will never die.”

Born in Israel to parents from the former Soviet Union, Golan spent much of her childhood in Russia and performed on televised talent shows there before moving back to Israel. She cites Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Whitney Houston and Justin Timberlake among her inspirations.

She has avoided direct political statements, but said it was “such an honor to represent my country, especially in these times.”

Speaking after the semifinal, Golan said she was “overwhelmed with emotions.”

“I’m just super excited to go on stage once more and share a bit of my love with everyone,” she said.

___

Yesica Fisch contributed to this story from Jerusalem.

JILL LAWLESS

London correspondent covering politics and more.