Malmö in the colors of a Eurovision darkened by the war in Gaza

(Malmö) After concerts and rehearsals against the backdrop of demonstrations against the war in Gaza, the Eurovision song contest will rock Malmö, where representatives of 26 countries will compete on Saturday to succeed Sweden.

Croatia, Switzerland and Ukraine are favorites for this annual high mass of kitsch, followed in 2023 by 162 million people.

Right side: the Malmö Arena, where everything is neon lights, glittering costumes and catchy rhythms. Front side: the incessant ballet of heavily armed police officers on patrol among decorations.

Across the city, brightly colored pompoms and pennants rub shoulders with Palestinian flags hanging from windows and balconies.

On Thursday, up to 30,000 demonstrators are expected to protest against the participation of Israel which will try to place itself for the final that day.

Inside the Malmö Arena, the organization has, as usual, banned any flag other than those of the participants as well as any banner with a political message.

Last year, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the competition, banned Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from speaking there.

But the neutrality of the platform was shaken on Tuesday, during the first semi-final, by the Swedish singer Eric Saade who, in the number opening the competition, wore a keffiyeh around his arm.

A gesture regretted by the EBU and Swedish public television SVT, who claim the apolitical nature of this popular meeting.

“It’s a world in its own right (…) very joyful and colorful, a world in which I feel safe,” confides Nemo, a non-binary Swiss artist.

For fans –– the city expects up to 100,000 visitors – “it’s what’s on stage that’s important: the contributions, the artists and the music, and not politics,” insists the history professor ideas, Andreas Önnerfors, Eurovision specialist.

Almost seventy years old, Eurovision is “a demonstration of European tolerance that we do not find in other forms or in other places”, he underlines.

“Politics is everywhere”

However, for Ukrainian artists, “politics is everywhere”.

This year, the conflict in Ukraine has been overshadowed by the war in Gaza, which began on October 7 when Hamas commandos carried out an attack on Israel that left more than 1,170 people dead, mostly civilians, according to an AFP report. established from official Israeli data.

More than 250 people have been kidnapped and 128 remain captive in Gaza, of whom 36 are believed to have died, according to the army.

In response, the Israeli army launched an offensive in Gaza, which has killed 34,844 people so far, according to the Hamas health ministry.

“There must be demonstrations, people must express their opinions, people must boycott,” assures AFP Magnus Børmark, candidate for Norway with his group Gåte, who, like eight other participants, publicly called for a cease. -long-lasting fire.

Representatives of some countries had once considered boycotting the competition to protest Israel’s presence, but did not follow through.

“The first days of Eurovision week were calm. We are investigating a case of alleged incitement to racial hatred,” notes police spokesperson Jimmy Modin.

While Sweden raised its alert level last year after acts of desecration of the Koran, “we can obviously never exclude the possibility that something will happen, but there is no threat directed against the Quran. ‘Eurovision,’ he insists.

Police officers came from all over Sweden, but also from Denmark and Norway to reinforce local numbers.

Within the Jewish community, some plan to leave the city for the weekend.

“With Eurovision, there is a sort of intensification. The feeling of insecurity increased after October 7, many Jews are worried,” explains a spokesperson, Fredrik Sieradzki.

“I can’t really look forward to Eurovision, although in principle we think, as a congregation, that it is good that everyone is welcome here in Malmö, including Israel,” he sums up. -he. “But we preferred that it not expose us to anything.”

According to him, the numerous pro-Palestinian demonstrations did not, however, give rise to calls directly targeting the city’s Jews.

Security around the synagogue has nevertheless been reinforced.

On social networks, threats were made against the singer representing Israel, Eden Golan.

She participates in the second semi-final on Thursday with the hope of obtaining a ticket for the final on Saturday at 9 p.m. (3 p.m. Eastern time).

At the same time, activists will organize the first edition of Falastinvision, a musical competition in solidarity with the Palestinians.