Sweden said it plans to host a dazzling Eurovision Song Contest, watched by 200 million people worldwide, but visitors face heightened security amid planned protests over Israel's participation and a new geo-political backdrop since Sweden joined NATO.

Malmö

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Israel-Gaza War

The Swedish city of Malmö is preparing to host the Eurovision Song Contest, an event that draws considerable international attention with an audience of approximately 200 million viewers worldwide. This year, the third-largest city in Sweden is expected to welcome around 100,000 visitors for the contest. However, the festivities come with a layer of complexity due to planned protests against Israel's participation in the event.

Protesters have already voiced their objections earlier this month outside Malmö's city hall, and additional larger pro-Palestinian protests are scheduled to occur outside the contest venue. Malmö residents have noticed an increase in protest signs throughout the city, indicating a growing sentiment of displeasure towards Israel's involvement. Among the protesters is Malmö resident Orwa Kadora, a Palestinian actively involved in organizing these demonstrations. Kadora shared that emotions amongst the protesters range from anger and sadness to a sense of injustice.

Despite the controversy, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the Eurovision Song Contest, maintains that the event is meant to be non-political. The EBU has previously resisted calls to exclude Israel over the war in Gaza. However, it did ban Russia from competing in 2022 following demands from several European public broadcasters, sparked by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In regard to this year's competition, the Israeli contestant Eden Golan and her song "Hurricane" are anticipated to garner significant attention. Israel was permitted to compete after modifying the lyrics of its original song "October Rain," to omit references to the October 7 Hamas onslaught in Israel, as requested by the EBU.

The involvement of Sweden, a recent NATO member, introduces a new geopolitical dimension to the event, elevating potential security concerns. There are fears that the protests could escalate into violence, alongside heightened terror threats and increased tensions with Russia. According to police statements, security measures for the Eurovision Song Contest will be significantly more stringent than those in place when Sweden last hosted the event in 2016. The contest's executive producer, Ebba Adilson, emphasized her focus on ensuring the safety and enjoyment of visitors from over 80 countries, highlighting the event's aim to unite people through music. Attendees can expect airport-like security checks at contest venues during the event, scheduled from May 7th to 11th.



Eurovision host Sweden braces for anti-Israel protests

The Swedish city of Malmö is gearing up to host the Eurovision Song Contest against a backdrop of heightened security and planned protests over Israel's participation. Eurovision is the biggest contest of its kind in the world. Two hundred million people are expected to tune in, and about 100,000 are expected to travel to Sweden's third-largest city. Earlier this month, protesters denounced Israel's participation in a protest outside Malmö's city hall. And multiple large pro-Palestinian protests are planned outside the contest venue. Protest signs are already up around the city. Malmö resident Orwa Kadora is a Palestinian who was helping to organize protests. The feelings around Israel's participation, he says, are difficult and multi-layered, including anger, sadness and a feeling of injustice. The European Broadcasting Union, or EBU, organizes the contest. It's resisted calls for Israel to be excluded over the war in Gaza and says the event is non-political. Still, the EBU banned Russia in 2022 after several European public broadcasters called for the country to be expelled over its invasion of Ukraine. This time around, Israeli contestant Eden Golan will be under the spotlight, along with her song, Hurricane. Israel got the green light to compete after agreeing to modify the lyrics of its original song, October Rain, which the EBU said made reference to the October 7th Hamas onslaught in Israel. Organizers face the risk of protests escalating into violence, heightened terror threats in the country, as well as increased tensions with Russia after Sweden's NATO membership. Police say security will be tighter compared to the last time Sweden hosted the event in 2016. The contest's executive producer, Ebba Adilson, says her focus is on the visitors coming to Sweden from over 80 countries. This is my focus and I really hope that people will feel this and be united by music. Those visitors will have to pass through airport-like security checks when entering venues. The contest takes place from May 7th to 11th.

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Israel-Gaza War