Israel's Eurovision entry 'shocked' by protests during semi-final show
Israel's entry in the Eurovision semi-final faced protests in the arena. According to the BBC, the artist said she was 'shocked' by the interruptions on stage, with the dispute reviving the contest's political dimension.
Some members of the audience staged protests during Israel's performance in the Eurovision Song Contest semi-final. According to the BBC, the artist said she was 'shocked' by what happened during the performance and continued on stage.
Broadcasters changed camera angles during the live show to minimise on-stage interruptions. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said safe stage access for all participating artists is a core principle; groups behind the protests said their action was a response to Israel's military operations in Gaza.
The Eurovision rule prohibiting political messaging has been debated frequently in recent years. The EBU is expected to release an assessment of the incident in the coming days; the Israeli delegation said it is continuing preparations for the final. Additional security measures against similar actions are expected on the night of the grand final.
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