Controversial participant Israel qualifies for the final Songfestival

Despite all the controversy about the participation of Israel, the country qualified for the final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland. During the second semifinal of the event, which according to the organizer Ebu is « Apolitical », the song « New Day Will Rise » received enough voices from TV viewers from singer Yuval Raphael to be allowed. Professional juries only hand out points during the final.

In addition to Israel, there are also favorites Austria (JJ with the opera pop song ‘Wasted Love’) and Finland (Erika Vikman with the comically spicy ‘Ich Komme’) to the final.

During the performance of Israel, some boo sound sounded in the hall and some people turned their backs to the stage. At the last rehearsal of the semi -final in the afternoon, there was more noise: then by a part of the audience there was a hard whistle, something that clearly heard from the nearby press room. A Palestinian flags could also be seen in the audience. It is said that a number of whistling visitors have been set out at that rehearsal.

The 24-year-old Raphael survived the Hamas attack at the Nova Dance Festival of 7 October 2023. She sings her song about tenacity in three languages ​​(English, French and Hebrew). The song builds up to a large climax, which she brought during the Songfestival from a large silver spiral staircase, including fireworks rain in the background.

The participation of Israel, which killed over 51,000 Palestinians in Gaza, is very sensitive to both former participants, broadcasters and part of the Songfestival fans. The Swiss Songfestival winner of last year, Nemo, also indicated that the country should have been excluded.

Demonstration

On Thursday evening a Pro-Palestinian demonstration took place where about two hundred people were present. They walked through the center of the city, including through the historic Mittler Brücke. This was a very modest trip. One of the demonstrators, the 77-year-old Urs Hänggi, had a sign with the words ‘Thank you, Nemo’ on it, referring to the singer. Hänggi said to be happy that the singer has been pronounced so: « There is now a genocide going on. I am also disgusted by our Swiss government, they do nothing. »

On Thursday evening a number of people with Palestinian flags could be seen at the St. Jakobsshalle, but it remained quiet there. The police remained at a distance, while a people from a so -called dialogue team entered into conversation with demonstrators.

The second semifinal of the Songfestival was characterized mainly by escapism and performances full of sexual winks. Lithuania, Armenia, Denmark, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta and Greece are also through. There they compete against the Dutch entry Claude and the Sauna act of Top favorite Sweden.