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Eurovision 2021 In the shadow of the security situation in Israel: the world is against us but also a little in our favor
Every year, Israel wins demonstrations against it in the city that hosts the Eurovision Song Contest, but this year, in parallel with Operation Wall Guard, it is of course happening more and more.
Present and past participants in the competition speak out against Israel, but against them there are also those who identify with us.
How does all this affect Eden Elena's chances?
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Eurovision 2021
Eden Elena
Yaniv Dornbush
Sunday, 16 May 2021, 10:23 Updated: 10:39
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Although the full name of the competition is "Eurovision Singing Competition", but from day one the Eurovision Song Contest is tainted with politics. Israel, as expected, has a significant role to play in this game. Almost every year there are demonstrations against Israel in the host city, certainly outside the competition hall on the eve of the semi-finals where the Israeli song competes. This year, it seems, the intensity is even stronger, depending on the intensity of the military operation in Gaza. Europeans are not looking at the images from the south or Tel Aviv, but at the demolition of buildings in Gaza.
This time, not only citizens and tourists are protesting against Israel, some of the participants in Eurovision 2021 and previous years are protesting on social media against Israel, all while residents of the country in the south, center, Tel Aviv and Sharon spend the night in protected areas.
Indrik, the singer who represents Germany at this year's Eurovision Song Contest, shared the story she shared with La Hadid, in which a woman is seen explaining to her friend "Israelis are the oppressors and Palestinians are oppressed and they are fighting for everything but religion."
Shortly afterwards Indrik deleted the story and explained: "The post was misleading. You showed me that there are victims on both sides. We need to support everyone."
Indrik v. Israel (Photo: Screenshot, Instagram)
Indrik returns to it (Photo: screenshot, Instagram)
Eric Saada, who represented Sweden at the 2011 Eurovision Song Contest and finished in third place, posted a story of armed policemen surrounding a Palestinian worshiper on the Temple Mount alongside emojis of broken hearts.
Saada was born in Sweden to a Lebanese father of Palestinian descent.
In 2011, when he competed in the Eurovision Song Contest, Israel gave him 12 points.
Saada also hosted the 2019 Melody Festival, Sweden's song selection competition, and participated in a tribute show to Israeli Eurovision winners.
The Story of Eric Saada (Photo: Screenshot, Instagram)
The twin duo Edward, who represented Ireland for two consecutive years at the Eurovision Song Contest, and in the first of which they finished in the top ten, also called on the Eurovision Song Contest to remove Israel from the competition.
"The world is watching you! Justice for Palestine," the two tweeted, adding: "The Israeli song for the Eurovision Song Contest is called 'Set Me Free', and yet you are killing Palestinians, release them!"
Gemini twins tweet (Photo: screenshot, Instagram)
The two do not stop tweeting against Israel, and on Saturday they wrote: "Terrorism will not silence the media! Respect and strengthen all the journalists and heroes who risk their lives," referring to the collapse of the media ministry building in Gaza.
Terrorism, in case you did not understand, is attributed to Israel.
And tweet again (Photo: screenshot, Instagram)
Not everyone is against us
But there are also those who support Israel, Samara, who represented Azerbaijan at the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest and participated in the "Israel Calling" event in Tel Aviv, posted a picture of herself from Tel Aviv next to the caption "I stand by Israel".
Samara also published a similar story.
Jewish nation.
Samara (Photo: Screenshot, Instagram)
Great support also comes from the German Florian Wieder, who designed the 2021 Eurovision stage in Rotterdam.
Even before that, he designed the Eurovision stages in 2011, 2012, 2015, 2017, 2018, and also 2019 in Tel Aviv.
Wieder changed the cover image on his Facebook page to the Israeli flag.
Great support.
Florian Wieder (Photo: Screenshot, Instagram)
The concern: an outburst on stage and derogatory cries
At some Eurovision we saw people from the audience burst onto the stage.
The last time this happened was at Eurovision 2018, Neta Barzilai's victory Eurovision.
During the British song, a man burst onto the stage, snatched the microphone from a British representative, and shouted "The Nazis of the British media, we demand freedom".
The singer was so upset that she gave up the privilege she was given to perform once again after the last song.
The fear that someone in the audience will break onto the stage during Eden Elena's song exists but the chances of that are particularly low.
Due to Corona’s limitations, this year there will not be a standing audience contrary to what we have become accustomed to in recent years.
There will also be no seats for ticket buyers in front of the arena.
All 3,500 people allowed to enter the hall will sit in social stands in the stands.
The area in front of the stage will be Green Room, so that only the participating artists, members of the delegations, and the production team will have access to the stage.
The only thing that can happen from there is that the Icelandic representative who refused to participate in the local pre-Eurovision in Israel, will do what his predecessors did in office in Tel Aviv, when they pulled out signs in support of Palestine.
What may happen are shouts of contempt from the audience, noises we are used to hearing during Russia's songs or to differentiate, with Cyprus and Greece giving each other 12 points.
Here, too, everyone hopes that bringing in a limited audience will also reduce the chance of this happening, and that the audience that is already allowed to enter will come to enjoy a music show that tries to be politically free.
More on Walla!
After the ambush Al-Jazeera letter, Eden Elena does not want to talk politics: "Proud to represent you"
To the full article
The Icelandic delegation in Israel with the Palestinian flag (Photo: screenshot, screenshot)
And there is also good news in gambling
Despite the situation and the feeling that the whole world is against us, there is also good news in the gambling agencies.
Although the chances of winning the song "Set Me Free" dropped to 19th place, but in the chances of qualifying for the Eurovision final, Eden Elena rose to 9th place.
For months the song shuffled in 11-12 places, out of the top ten needed to advance to the finals.
We will of course keep our fingers crossed and hope that Israel's story at the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest will continue deep into Saturday night.
Climbs in semi-final betting (Photo: screenshot, Instagram)
The first semi-final of the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest with the participation of Israel will be broadcast here 11 at 22:00.
Eden Elena will perform with song number 12. The announcement of the ten immigrants is expected shortly after midnight.
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