Eurovision Semi-Final Disrupted by Protests as Israel Takes Stage
Crowd protests erupted inside the arena during Israel's performance at the Eurovision semi-final, with chants calling for a halt to fighting in Gaza. The European Broadcasting Union said it amplified the stage sound to continue the live broadcast.
The protests began the moment Israel's entrant walked onto the stage. Palestinian flags were raised in the stands and chants continued throughout the live performance. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) reiterated that under contest rules every participating country competes on the same terms on stage.
Ireland, Iceland and Spain's national broadcasters had earlier asked the EBU to bar Israel from the contest, a request the union declined. The host country of this year's contest also saw large protests outside the arena, with thousands of people gathering and motorway traffic halted for hours in several districts.
Israel advanced to the final. Industry analysts said the brief amplification of the stage audio is unlikely to settle the debate, and that the contest is finding it harder to remain insulated from political pressure. The EBU is reportedly weighing a review of competition rules for next year.
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