'Israel's' Eurovision final rehearsal hits sour note outvoiced by boos
3 Min Read
The incident echoes a similar occurrence during the semi-final rehearsals, where cries of "Free Palestine" punctuated the atmosphere alongside boos and shouts during "Israel's" performance.
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A banner for Eurovision 2022 in Turin (AFP)
As "Israel" continues its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, its contestant Eden Golan reportedly encountered a wave of loud boos during the Eurovision rehearsals in Sweden, as shown in video footage, just before her scheduled performance in the finals of the song contest on Saturday.
שריקות בוז לעדן גולן בחזרת השופטים pic.twitter.com/Fzm0CcBjIG
— ישראל היום (@IsraelHayomHeb) May 10, 2024
During the semi-final rehearsals of the Eurovision song contest in Sweden, cries of 'Free Palestine' were heard amid boos and shouts during "Israel's" performance.
"Israel's" Eurovision contestant, Eden Golan, performed at the second-semi final on Thursday evening despite being booed by crowds during Wednesday's rehearsal.
Meanwhile, Eurovision viewers have claimed that fake crowd noise was used to drown out the boos for the performance of the Israeli contestant, calling them "anti-booing techniques".
During the semi-final on Thursday evening, many took to X to claim there was “anti-booing” technology being used during "Israel’s" performance as Golan was once again met with boos from the crowd.
One user said, “All the booing from the audience at Israel’s performance, that they didn’t let you hear on TV by using anti-booing technology and fake cheering sounds.”
REMINDER if you hear cheers for israel during the broadcast it’s cause of the ebu is using anti-booing technique trying to cover up boos with fake cheers for tv, but this is how it’s actually like inside the arena ‼️ #Eurovision pic.twitter.com/3Cs9oESnaa
— rasmus (@rasmusbravado) May 9, 2024
“All the cheering you hear during Israel’s act is actually booing,” commented a second person.
I love the sound of the anti-booing tech for tonight's #eurovision2024 - Dystopian Pop!
— BELLA CALEDONIA (@bellacaledonia) May 9, 2024
The Bella Caledonia account tweeted, “I love the sound of the anti-booing tech for tonight’s #eurovision2024.”
The big picture
Thousands of demonstrators supporting the Palestinian cause and protesting the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza congregated in the Swedish city of Malmo on Thursday to oppose "Israel's" participation in the Eurovision Song Contest.
Before Golan's performance in the semi-final, more than 12,000 pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered on the streets, as per the Swedish police.
Climate activist Greta Thunberg was among the attendees at the pro-Palestinian demonstration, emphasizing, as quoted by BBC, the moral imperative to speak out and take action against Israeli aggression in Gaza.
"If we are tens of thousands of people flooding the streets of Malmo when Eurovision is taking place, saying we will not accept this to continue, then it's a very strong signal – and it does make a difference," Thunberg said.
Nine pro-Palestinian protesters were arrested as police cracked down on the protest, dispersing crowds with pepper spray.
Read next: Eurovision; microcosm of global disdain toward 'Israel' over Gaza
