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 Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence beat 25 other
contestants in the grand final in Tel Aviv to win the glass
microphone trophy.
The 25-year-old favorite won 492 points with his piano ballad
"Arcade" about a failing relationship. His victory gives the
Netherlands the right to host the 2020 finals. Italy came
second, with 465 points, and Russia third, with 369.
After receiving the prize from last year's winner, Israeli
singer Netta Barzilai, Laurence said he hoped he had touched
listeners. "Believe in your music, believe in your artistry," he
said.
This year's competition was more political than usual, held
against the backdrop of a campaign by the Boycott, Divestment,
Sanctions (BDS) movement that urged artists, fans and
broadcasters to shun the event to protest against Israeli
policies in the West Bank and Gaza.
But no singers or broadcasters pulled out, and only a small
crowd of protesters turned up outside the venue.
However pop superstar Madonna sprang a surprise during her guest
performance of two songs - her iconic 1989 hit “Like A Prayer”
and a new number, “Future,” sung alongside the American rapper
Quavo.
At the close of the second number, two backing dancers briefly
appeared on stage wearing the Israeli and Palestinian flags on
the back of their costumes.
The European Broadcasting Union, which co-produced the contest
alongside Israel's national broadcaster, issued a statement
immediately after her performance. "This element of the
performance was not cleared with the EBU and the Host
Broadcaster, KAN. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political
event and Madonna had been made aware of this," it said.
The 60-year-old singer, who is a follower of the mystical form
of Judaism called Kabbalah, had faced criticism from
pro-Palestinian activists for performing at the event.
She defended her decision, issuing a statement earlier in the
week that she would always speak up to defend human rights, and
that she hoped to see “a new path toward peace.”
Hatari, Iceland's entrant, drew boos from the audience when the
band held up small Palestinian banners live on air during
voting. The EBU said the political display "directly contradicts
the contest rules."
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ROLLERBLADING POLICE
Security was tight through the final, with thousands of extra
police, undercover officers and private security guards deployed.
Fans had to pass through metal detectors and multiple security
checks as armed police looked on.
Some police units used rollerblades for mobility, while security
officials inside the auditorium kept watch in case activists tried
to disrupt the event.
Israel said calls to boycott the competition were discriminatory and
anti-Semitic, which the BDS movement denies.
In the south of the city, a beachside area was sealed off for a
“Eurovision Village” spectators pavilion, where fans from different
countries danced and watched the event on big screens.
Jacob Strange, 26, an Australian, said he had flown 28 hours,
including two layovers, to attend. His country is one of a handful
of non-European nations, including Israel, to take part.
"We love Eurovision back in Australia," he said, adding of the
protesters: "I understand where they are coming from ... but in the
end of the day Eurovision is about bringing people together, and
about peace."
Israelis in Tel Aviv said they were proud to be hosting the event.
“I’m very excited. It’s great that it’s come to Tel Aviv,” said Alan
Liferow, 58, an Israeli accountant from Ein Sarid.
But a small crowd gathered outside the venue to protest, carrying
signs in Hebrew, Arabic and English reading "No Pride in Occupation"
and "Feminists for Gaza."
At one point they competed with another small demonstration against
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin, but neither drew much attention
from concertgoers aside from a few brief shouting matches.
Umar al-Ghubari, a Palestinian who led a tour near the Eurovision
Village, said fans were celebrating near where a pre-1948
Palestinian neighborhood had been destroyed. “The Israelis don’t
want to tell this story. They want to show everything as normal,”
said Ghubari.
(Additional reporting by Rahaf Ruby in Tel Aviv. Writing by Stephen
Farrell in Jerusalem; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
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