THIS is the moment 100 Swedish cops escorted Israeli singer Eden Golan to the Eurovision arena in Malmo today as pro-Palestinian hate mobs and ISIS threats plague the contest.
The 20-year-old performer, who was forced to stay in her hotel room amid fears she may be targeted by pro-Palestine protesters, was escorted by cops in 12 cars ahead of tonight’s final.
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Observers watched as the long convoy of black and cop cars, some with flashing lights, drove slowly down a road as a police helicopter patrolled overhead.
A mob of 20,000 pro-Palestine supporters will take to the streets of Malmo today ahead of the Eurovision final as tensions over Israel’s inclusion hit boiling point.
Activists including climate zealot Greta Thunberg are braced for a showdown with Swedish police as fears mount that a “ring of steel” placed around the event will not be enough to stop anti-Israel protesters from disrupting the already crisis-hit song contest.
Demonstrators have stuck hundreds of stickers across the historic city centre and defaced Eurovision posters with the Palestinian flag and signs accusing Israel of “killing children” in Gaza and Rafah.
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Some 12,000 people have already marched in Malmo, which is around 20 per cent Muslim, but the largest demonstration will happen just hours before the event begins tonight.
More than 20,000 people are set to protest, according to cops, and some could even attempt to stage a second demonstration directly outside the 12,500-seat Malmo arena where the contest is being held.
Police bosses have already drafted in cops from around the country to boost protection for the public and performers including Eden who has been forced to stay in her hotel room while not on stage.
The protesters got the jump on officials by launching a surprise late-night march on Friday, with chants of “Intifada, revolution” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
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Some Palestine supporters at the march said they believed Israel should not exist and that vile abuse of brave Eden was fair game.
Eurovision singers yesterday came under fire for bullying the Israeli contestant, after which one of the alleged culprits, Dutchman Joost Klein, was banned from a dress rehearsal for the grand final – and later axed from the competition.
Booing was heard from the crowd before, during, and after Eden’s performance in the semi-finals on Thursday.
Eden was ordered to stay in her hotel room at all times except when performing, as thousands of pro-Palestine demonstrators protested Israel’s participation in the contest due to its war with Hamas in Gaza.
Up to 5,000 people took to the streets of Malmo yesterday, the crowds sending up smoke in the colours of the Palestinian flag and carrying signs with images of victims of the war in Gaza.
The Israeli secret service yesterday flew to Sweden to bolster the already-massive Eurovision security operation amid chilling ISIS threats, with some of the furious mob in Malmo found to be armed.
Israelis were earlier month warned not to attend the Eurovision event as there were fears terror groups would “exploit protests” to cause carnage.
At the time, Israel’s National Security Counci cited “well-founded concerns” of terrorist attacks.
Controversial Eurovision act Joost, 26, was today axed from the competition, as police investigate an “incident” reported by a female member of the contest’s production crew.
A Malmo Police spokeswoman did not name Joost Klein but confirmed an investigation into a man’s alleged violent threats at the Malmo Arena on Thursday night had been passed to the Public Prosecutions Office.
Prosecutors take over criminal investigations in Sweden if there are reasonable grounds for suspecting someone has committed an offence.
It means the allegations could take weeks to settle while officials decide whether to charge him with an offence.
The man has not been arrested but was quizzed by officers at the arena for more than 30 minutes last night, it is understood.
The police spokeswoman added: “There is a plaintiff we have identified.
“She is not one of the artists at the competition but an employee of Eurovision.”
Dutch broadcaster Avrotros said it was “shocked” by the decision to axe Joost which it perceived to be “disproportionate”.
A spokesman for the broadcaster said: “We have taken note of the disqualification by the EBU.
“Avrotros finds the disqualification disproportionate and is shocked by the decision.
“We deeply regret this and will come back to this later.”
The European Broadcasting Union said yesterday that it was investigating an “incident” which involved Joost, stating: “While the legal process takes its course, it would not be appropriate for him (Joost) to continue in the Contest.”
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Organisers have said the “incident” did not involve another performer or delegation member.
The Eurovision Song Contest Grand Final will be broadcast live tonight at 8pm UK time.
Why can Israel compete at Eurovision but Russia can’t?
ISRAEL was allowed to compete in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest but Russia has been excluded since its 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises the event, has defended its ruling that Israel is allowed to compete despite its war in Gaza.
It claimed that it would be a “political move” to bar Israel from competing.
Defending the inclusion of Israel, the EBU’s director general Noel Curran said, “The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU.
“It is not a contest between governments.”
On February 25 2022, the EBU excluded Russia from participating before it was due to perform in the semi-final.
At the time, it said Russia’s inclusion could bring the competition into disrepute “in light of the unprecedented crisis in Ukraine”.
Citing the 2022 exclusion of Russia this week, Curran said, “The Russian broadcasters themselves were suspended from the EBU due to their persistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service values.”
Israel has won Eurovision five times in the past 50 years it has taken part in the singing competition.
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Source: Sun
