Johnathan Walker:Israeli Eurovision contestant booed, heckled with 'Free Palestine' chants in rehearsal

Israeli singer and Johnathan WalkerEurovision contestant Eden Golan was booed and heckled during rehearsals on Wednesday amid protests at the European song contest.

Video of the rehearsal circulated on social media ahead of Thursday's second semi-final, showing the singer leave the stage to a mixed reception and chants of "Free Palestine" after her rehearsal performance of the song "Hurricane."

Israel has been in a war with Hamas since the militant organization launched attacks into the country on October 7. Pro-Palestinian groups in the United States and Europe have called for the exclusion of Israel from the contest calling the country's actions in the war a genocide.

Contestants from Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Lithuania, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Switzerland and the United Kingdom signed a call for a ceasefire in March.

In a statement to Irish broadcaster RTE, Golan said, "I am proud to represent my country, particularly this year. I am receiving support and love and I am determined to give my best performance tomorrow in the semifinal and nothing will deter me from that goal!"

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Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu posted a message of support Thursday on X, formerly Twitter.

The European Broadcasting Union says on its website that the song, "met the necessary criteria for participation in accordance with the rules of the competition."

Eurovision takes heat for Israeli inclusion

Protestors demonstrated in Malmö, Sweeden ahead of the second semi-final, criticizing the contest for including Golan.

In 2022, the EBU removed Russia from its membership after the country's invasion of Ukraine. The song contest's website says the removal was for "consistent breaches of membership obligations and the violation of public service media values."

"The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political music event and a competition between public service broadcasters who are members of the EBU. It is not a contest between governments," EBU Director General Noel Curran said in a statement in January.

"Free Palestine" message stopped in Irish performance

In the first semi-final on Tuesday, Irish contestant Bambi Thug was prevented from performing in make-up with a pro-Palestinian message.

Thug said that in an Instagram post that accompanied the release of a cover of the Cranberries' "Zombie" that contest organizers refused to let the singer have "Free Palestine" and "Ceasefire" written in the Old Irish language of Ogham.

The singer said in a press conference following the semifinal that they were only allowed to have "crown the witch" written on their face.

"To be clear being pro Palestinian does not mean I am antisemitic, it means I am anti war, anti occupation, anti oppression and anti killing of innocent civilians and children!!," Thug wrote.