Israel’s Eurovision contestant, Eden Golan, was met with boos during a dress rehearsal for her performance of “Hurricane” on Wednesday.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the 20-year-old was unfazed by the boos and finished her song in preparation for Thursday’s Eurovision semi-final. She later said, “I am proud to represent my country, especially this year. I am receiving support and love, and I am determined to give my best performance tomorrow in the semi-finals, and nothing will distract me from my goal. I am proud to be Israeli.”
Golan’s participation in Eurovision has drawn extra attention due to the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In a show of solidarity with her country and its history, Golan chose to skip the opening ceremony of the song contest on Sunday. Instead, she attended a Yom Hashoah ceremony with the Jewish community in Malmo, the host city of this year’s competition.
During the ceremony, Golan performed “Hatikvah,” the Israeli national anthem, alongside members of Malmo’s Jewish community. She also participated in lighting memorial candles to honor the six million Jewish lives lost during the Holocaust.
“Today, on the eve of Holocaust Remembrance Day, we will light a candle in memory of the six million of our people who were murdered – and remind the world that never again is now,” Golan said at the time, as quoted in the report.”
