The atmosphere linked to the war in Gaza is overshadowing the 2024 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be hosted by the city of Malmö in southern Sweden, as attention turns to expected pro-Palestinian movements that could overshadow the familiar festive atmosphere.
Israel's participation is at the center of the controversy surrounding this session of the contest, which has been organized for nearly seventy years and this year brings together 37 countries, concluding with the final on Saturday, May 11, after the semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday.
Anders Büchel, who will demonstrate on May 9, the date of Israel's entry into the competition, which Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine are most likely to win, said: "In light of the continuation of this war, Israel's participation should be completely banned, just as Russia was previously excluded?
In 2022, Russian broadcasters were excluded from the European Broadcasting Union, which oversees the competition, due to the war in Ukraine.
Since the beginning of the year, several petitions have been submitted calling for Israel's exclusion. At the end of March, candidates from nine countries, including Switzerland's Nemo, one of the most likely winners, called for a permanent cease-fire.
Threats were directed at Eden Golan, who represents Israel, which was condemned by the European Radio and Television Union.
"While we strongly support freedom of expression and the right to express opinions in a democratic society, we strongly oppose any form of online abuse, hate speech or harassment of our artists or any individual associated with the contest," the union said in a statement.
Inside the Malmö Arena, where the competition is being held, the organization has banned the flying of flags other than those of the participating countries, as well as banners with political content, two rules that have long been in place.
"I'm sure someone will be able to smuggle in the Palestinian flag and wave it, but it's not certain that it will appear on television," said Anders Büchel.
Thousands of people are expected to attend pro-Palestinian rallies throughout the week in the city, which is decorated with multicolored flags.
Karin Carlsson, who is responsible for Eurovision in the city of Malmö, said: "I never thought we would become a global political event" of this magnitude.
Professor of the History of Ideas and Eurovision specialist, Andreas Unerfors, noted that "the whole world lives in Malmö, and all the conflicts exist in a very small area," as the city has a population of more than 362,000 people of 186 nationalities.
The majority of Swedes of Palestinian origin live in the coastal city, which ranks third in the Scandinavian kingdom and is also preparing to receive 100,000 visitors for the event.
Concerns center on security, especially since Sweden raised its alert level last summer after acts of Quran desecration.
Strict measures have been taken to allow access to the sites. Police officers from Norway and Denmark will assist their Swedish counterparts, who will be equipped with more weapons than usual. The huge Malmö Arena will be surrounded by security personnel.
The demonstrations that are expected to be organized will be subject to strict security measures, while the pre-trial detention centers have been evacuated as a precaution and the detainees have been transferred from them to another one in Sweden.
All this has led to "a distraction from the music contest and the joy it brings," noted Anders Persson, a fan of the Swedish quartet ABBA, who won the title exactly 50 years ago.
Malmö adopted the slogan "United in Music" for the 2023 edition, which will be held in the United Kingdom, due to the impossibility of organizing it in Ukraine, the winning country of the 2022 edition.
"Last year's Liverpool edition was a celebration in the face of Putin," said Lisanne Wilken, an anthropologist specializing in Eurovision. "This year, it is very difficult for Sweden to determine its position because it is overwhelmed" by the Gaza war.
In exchange for the expected movements in support of the Palestinians, Yair Elsner, a member of the small Jewish community in Malmö, is organizing a gathering on May 9 to celebrate Israel's participation. He said: "We will participate with the Swedish and Israeli flags to show something positive and welcoming in favor of Israel, democracy and the Western way of life.
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