Eurovision viewers have been left shocked after the winner of the semi-final of the competitors was unintentionally leaked. The general public vote in final night time’s semi-final in Malmo, Sweden, was aired on stay TV, baffling viewers.
Italian broadcast RAI revealed the tele-voting percentages by mistake on air through the Thursday night time efficiency. The chances of public votes are normally stored secret till after the competitors ends.
Israel, which has confronted enormous protests towards its place within the competitors this yr as a result of ongoing battle in Gaza, received the Italian public vote by a landslide. Almost 40 p.c of viewers in Italy backed the Israeli singer Eden Golan, whereas the runners-up, the Netherlands, solely received seven p.c of the vote.
The unprecedented vote tally surpasses the 24 p.c of Italians who voted for Ukraine within the 2022 competitors.
The astonishing margin of victory has prompted bookmakers to slash the chances for Israel‘s win at tomorrow’s occasion in Sweden’s third-biggest metropolis. Israel is now the second favorite to win, behind Croatia.
This yr’s singing contest has confronted controversy and big protests as a result of inclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan with the tune Hurricane. The tune was renamed from the politically charged title October Rain.
Activists and followers alike have urged the competitors to disqualify Israel as a result of nation’s ongoing battle in Gaza, which has led to about 35,000 deaths. Campaigners have decried double requirements after Eurovision banned Russia from the competitors following the invasion of Ukraine.
Whereas Israel earned assist from the Italian public, Eden Golan confronted a extra hostile reception contained in the Malmo venue final night time.
The 20-year-old singer’s efficiency was booed and drowned out by chants of “Free Palestine” from the viewers.
Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, praised Ms Golan final night time for “efficiently dealing with a wave of antisemitism whereas standing and representing the state of Israel with respect”.
Hundreds of protesters, together with Swedish local weather activist Greta Thunberg, additionally marched outdoors the venue towards Israel‘s inclusion.
Ms Thunberg mentioned: “It’s outrageous that Israel is allowed to take part. We can not stay silent throughout a genocide.”
An Israel win tomorrow night time would trigger one other headache for Eurovision organisers, because the winners host the competitors the next yr.