MALMÖ, Sweden, May 11, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - The Eurovision Song Contest final
gets underway in Sweden's Malmo on Saturday with thousands of protesters
expected to culminate a week of tensions surrounding Israel's participation
during the Gaza war.

Israel ranks with Croatia and Switzerland as one of the bookmakers'
favourites to succeed Sweden and take home the colourful and kitschy
competition watched by more than a hundred million people.

Police say up to 20,000 demonstrators are expected to rally against Israel's
participation in Malmo, whose more than 360,000 inhabitants represent 186
nationalities, many from the Middle East.

Sweden's third-largest city is also expecting up to 100,000 fans from 90
countries, on the 50th anniversary of iconic pop group ABBA's Eurovision win
with "Waterloo".

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the event, confirmed in
March the participation of Israel's contestant Eden Golan, despite calls for
her exclusion from thousands of musicians around the world.

More recently, nine of the acts, seven of whom are finalists, have called for
a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

The war started with Hamas's unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel that
resulted in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, mostly civilians, according
to an AFP tally of Israeli official figures.

Militants also seized hostages, of whom Israel estimates 128 remain in Gaza,
including 36 who the military says are dead.

Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 34,943 people in Gaza,
mostly women and children, according to the Hamas-run territory's health
ministry.

- Condemnation -

Golan's song is an adaptation of an earlier version named "October Rain",
which she modified after organisers deemed it too political because of its
apparent allusions to the Hamas attack.

The EBU, which suspended Russia in the wake of the war in Ukraine, insists it
does not play politics.

Last year it banned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from speaking in
the arena to protect the event's neutrality.

This neutrality was challenged on Tuesday by Swedish singer Eric Saade, who
took part in the opening number of the competition wearing a keffiyeh around
his arm.

Two days later, the unions at Belgian broadcaster VRT briefly interrupted
transmission of the second semi-final to broadcast a message in support of
the Palestinians.

"We condemn the violations of human rights by the state of Israel," the
message said in Dutch, accompanied by the hashtags #CeasefireNow and
#StopGenocide.

Inside the Malmo Arena, where organisers have banned all flags other than
those of the participating countries, it's all neon lights, bright costumes
and upbeat melodies.

Last year's showpiece in Britain's Liverpool "was a huge party, a celebration
thrown in Putin's face", anthropologist and Eurovision specialist Lisanne
Wilken told AFP, referring to Russia's leader.

"This year it really is more difficult for Sweden to position itself," she
added.

- Security tightened -

To gain access to the Malmo Arena, the some 9,000 spectators have to pass
through a reinforced security system designed in particular to discourage
protesters from approaching.
 
Police have said there are no threats directed at the competition, but their
presence has been strengthened with reinforcements from Norway and Denmark.

Sally Sadler, a music fan from the UK, said the protests had dampened the
spirit of Eurovision "a little bit".

"But it's all about unity and music. We're all here together, all nations,
for love not hate," she told AFP.

For the fans, it is now time for rhinestones and lively rhythms and the 2024
edition offers a wide range of musical genres.

Several acts "are about mental health, many young artists express that they
are not feeling well and are struggling with their identities", Andreas
Onnerfors, professor of the history of ideas and a Eurovision specialist,
told AFP.

"Another clear theme is religious and spiritual allusions. Then there is the
classic range of love songs from disappointment to innocent infatuation," he
continued.

While politics is mostly absent on stage, it is closer than organisers were
hoping for.

At the press conference after the second semi-final, the Netherlands' Joost
Klein repeatedly covered his face with a Dutch flag, seemingly signifying he
didn't agree with being placed next to Golan.

Klein was absent from Friday's dress rehearsal, with the EBU investigating
"an incident" involving the artist.