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Eurovision 2024: Activists protest Israel’s Eurovision Participation outside Malmö City Hall

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“Long live Palestine!” and “Israel is a terror state” – these slogans resounded outside Malmö City Hall as vocal activists gathered to influence the city’s politicians during the municipal board meeting earlier today, Wednesday, coinciding with the municipal executive board’s consideration of a citizen’s proposal to halt Israel‘s participation in Eurovision.

Today, the board will take a position on citizens’ initiatives aimed at stopping Israel‘s participation in the competition in May. The City of Malmö‘s government has already made it clear on several occasions – it is not up to the municipality to stop countries from participating.

“But they can do something. In that case, the City of Malmö should make a statement that Israel is not welcome in Malmö.”

says Yomn Kadoura, spokesperson for the network Stop Israel to TT and adds:

“And that they send emails to the EBU and say that Israel is not welcome at Eurovision!”

The Eurovision Song Contest will be held in Malmö between 7 and 11 May, and the war between Israel and Hamas has stirred up strong feelings around Europe regarding the music competition. Sydsvenskan has previously reported that Tarabband, Crying Day Care Choir, and Nevergreens have canceled their concerts. Yesterday, Medina also announced their resignation.

The fact that the festivities are surrounded by growing criticism is a concern for the host city. Karin Karlsson, the main project manager for the City of Malmö‘s hosting, told TT last week.

“We want a Malmö where we come out of this in one piece.” 

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any updates regarding its planning!

Source: Anna Karolina Eriksson/TT
Photo: Per Pixel Petersson/imagebank.sweden.se

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Eurovision 2024: “Can’t guarantee safety but do everything we can!” | Police ahead of Eurovision

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Now it’s only a month left before the world’s biggest music festival, the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in Malmö, Sweden. And preparations are in full swing so that the competition can be carried out with the best possible safety.

Petra Stenkulla is the police area manager in Malmö and was interviewed on P1-Morgon of Sveriges Radio by reporter August Haskbom. Petra comments on the situation:

“It is of course the case that Sweden has a terror threat level of four out of five. And that means that we need to intensify our work together with the security police. But really, you can say that all types of events where there are very many people in the same place always pose a certain risk and that means that we need to take measures to have many police officers and have good planning for anything that could happen, even if it is an accident or anything at all.”

In a time with high terrorist threat, Israel‘s participation has aroused strong reactions and with up to one hundred thousand visitors, the city of Malmö is still planning on an open event. Petra Stenkulla adds:

“Our ambition is for it to be a festive event where people can still feel safe and have fun. Right now, we’re planning for it to be an open event that is happening in several different places. There will be events and people need to be able to move between them. And this is part of our planning.”

In safety planning, the City of Malmö and the police have had frequent communication with last year’s host city, Liverpool.  And Petra Stenkulla thinks that a good plan has been formed for this year’s music competition:

“We can never guarantee safety but we will do our upmost to make people feel safe. And we can also assume that there will be both rumor spreading and other factors that will lead to, for example, threats that we need to assess. But we will continue to work with this, we have a solid plan and we feel confident with that plan. So that everyone can feel comfortable.”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden and any security updates regarding its planning!

Source: Sveriges Radio/P1 Morgon/August Haskbom/Ekot
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT

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Eurovision 2024: City of Malmö working hard for a safe Eurovision!

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Malmö is currently evaluating the current situation caused by the ongoing Middle-Eastern conflict, hence, is discussing the ways of making the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest as safe as possible.

Israel‘s confirmed participation in Eurovision is stirring emotional protests around Europe. Intensive work is being done on security for the Eurovision Song Contest, to be held this May in Malmö, Sweden. Ulf Nilsson, the Head of Security and Preparedness at the city of Malmö., said on an interview with P4 Malmöhus:

“Many people are contributing to make this a reputation-proof event. We’re broadly working with many different scenarios. We’re working very closely with the police, SVT, Region Skåne, the Traffic Department.”

Last weekend, a Eurovision sign outside Malmö Live was vandalized and has now been protected with wax. The vandalism was discovered in the early hours of the morning. On the base of the sign, someone has written “Free Gaza” and smeared it with red paint. Even on the digital sign that says “United by music” and “We are one“, someone has thrown paint.

Several individuals have already applied for permission from the police to demonstrate during Eurovision in protest against Israel and their Eurovision Song Contest participation.

“We see that many have opinions about Israel’s participation and we understand that. We’re closely monitoring the situation. Of course, this will be taken into account in our work.”

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding this year’s Eurovision Song Contest to be held next May in Malmö, Sweden!

Source: Sveriges Radio/P4 Malmöhus/Sofie Dahlstedt

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Anne-Marie David’s message on the return of the hostages from Hamas!

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Luxembourg’s 1973 Eurovision winner Anne-Marie David made a guest appearance at the Luxembourg Song Contest 2024, the Grand Duchy’s national final, for its return to the Eurovision, 30 years after its last entry. Anne-Marie David did not hesitate to express her support for the more than 100 kidnapped by the terrorist organization Hamas, who are still being held hostage in Gaza, wearing the yellow ribbon, a symbol for the return of captives and hostages, during the performance of the legendary now Tu Te Reconnaitras.

Thousands of Israelis now walk around every day wearing the yellow ribbon, an international symbol for the return of prisoners. The yellow ribbon is also used by thousands of protesters around the world, while it is tied to the balconies of many houses in Israel, as well as in the USA, as a message of hope and in favor of the return of the hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza since the terrorist attack on October 7 , which resulted in the deaths of 1,140 innocent civilians and the hostage taking of 240.

JCB Yellow Ribbon Campaign 2.jpg

At the moment when nauseating and inhumane comments are appearing on the internet and concern the Israeli origin of Tali, winner of the Luxembourg Song Contest and now representative of Luxembourg at Eurovision 2024, Anne Marie David discreetly but respectfully sends her own message and joins the struggle of all these families, but also of the official state of Israel, for the return of their loved ones, who for so many months remain unjustly, as hostages in the hands of Hamas, most likely to be used as human shields.

Watch Anne Marie David’s performance in the video below:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Eurovision 2024 in danger? Hamas’ plan to attack Israeli embassy in Stockhom exposed!

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Security cooperation between Mossad, Shin Bet, IDF and international organizations, exposes Hamas plot to attack targets worldwide, specifically in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The Mossad released a statement that said “Thanks to inter-agency cooperation in Israel and abroad, we have exposed Hamas’ elaborate plans including involved personnel such as Hamas commanders in Lebanon, locations and targets such as the Israeli embassy in Sweden by using drones and crime organizations in Europe. Hamas takes its inspiration from Iran’s terror regime and aspires to attack Israeli and and Western targets.

Does the above mean that the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held next May in Malmö, is at risk from a terrorist attack by Hamas? How will the organizers deal with this year’s security challenges? It will certainly be a competition that will not remind anything of the past.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Al Arabiya

Gali Atari opened the rally for the return of the 129 hostages kidnapped by Hamas!

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Eurovision 1979 winner Gali Atari, one of Israel’s biggest and most popular female artists opened the big rally organized in Hatofim Square for the return of the remaining hostages still held by Hamas, almost three months after terrorist attack on Israel’s border with the Gaza Strip.

Gali Atari, who turned 70 on the same day, performed a recently re-released song that she had released during the first intifada against Israel.

My 70th birthday wish and request is that all 129 remaining abductees return home safely and quickly.

In 1979 Israel with Gali Atari managed to win back to back, with a song that launched her career, even taking her abroad, Hallelujah became a symbol both in Israel and abroad, a symbol of peace and reconciliation, something which is so tested again in our days in that region.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

Sweden: Security planning for Eurovision 2024 in Malmö intensified!

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As you’ve read on one of our articles last week, based on the increased terrorist threat level, the Swedish Police Authority had decided to ban bags at major events in Sweden.

Consequently, Malmö is currently evaluating the current situation caused by the ongoing Middle-East conflict and is discussing the ways of making the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest as safe as possible.

Speaking to Sveriges Radio, Nils Norling, spokesperson for the police of Malmö mentioned:

“If we look at Malmö during the last month, we have seen a certain increase in hate crime. Daily we see manifestations, mostly pro-Palestinian. So we cannot exclude that people will try and carry out various manifestations.”

Up until now, the police of Malmö hasn’t identified any direct threats to the contest, but it goes without saying that the intelligence work will intensify as we are approaching to the contest.

Sveriges Radio also interviewed Karin Karlsson, who is the lead for organising the events of Malmö municipality. Karin reflected on one manifestation against the Israeli participation that was carried out back in 2013 and added:

“I think that we need to act preventively and keep in mind that more could happen than in 2013, and then follow the things the police tells us to do.”

Apart from the Eurovision Song Contest, the city of Malmö will host several events in public or outdoor spaces. But does this pose a threat according to Karlsson?

“We try to look at places where we are used to having good security and controls, so the places we want to use should feel safe.“

More safety specifications regarding the Eurovision Song Contest will be released within the following months.

The 68th Eurovision Song Contest will take place in Malmö, Sweden in 7, 9 and 11th of May 2024, after the second win of Loreen in Liverpool, with her song “Tattoo”:

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the news regarding the next year’s Eurovision Song Contest!

Source: Sveriges Radio

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