Voice of the Jewish News: There was only one real winner at Eurovision

That Eden Golan was even able to walk onto the stage in the Malmo stadium on Saturday evening is a testament to the extraordinary strength of Israel’s Eurovision star.

As she sang the first line of her song Hurricane, ‘Writer of my symphony…’ the booing began, while her supporters clutching Israel flags did their best to drown out the deranged hate with cheers. But she heard it, just as she did during the semi-final when we held our breath to see if she would claim enough votes to qualify for the final.

Beautiful and elegant in a long dress of frayed bandages, like the lyrics of the song the choice of costumes for Eden and her dancers was pointed. Gripping wrists, flaying in the storm, this was a routine presented by the emotionally wounded for the victims of 7 October.

It was for them that Eden was able to give such a powerful performance, muting the most committed haters in the stadium and slaying them with the top note of her seven-octave range which sounded like a cry for help.

That she was able to perform like a pro despite the bullying and ostracising only made us love her more, but understandably she broke down in tears when she landed back home.

Eden’s faultless delivery was recognised by more than a dozen countries, among them France, Belgium, Germany, Australia, Switzerland the UK, Italy, Luxembourg, and Portugal who all awarded Israel 12 points in the popular vote. What the juries didn’t do the people did.

As a result, 20-year-old Eden came fifth in the contest, but what a miserable time she had. Bullied by other contestants from the moment she arrived in the Swedish city, they kept their distance, complained about her presence to whoever gave them airtime and made Eden a pariah at what should have been a party. Forced to stay in her room as the angry mob grew in size, boosted by a guest appearance from climate activist Greta Thunberg wearing a keffiyeh.

Had it not been made clear why Dutch contestant Joost Klein was kicked out of the contest (he threatened a member of the production crew), Eden and Israel would have been blamed for his exit too. No doubt pro-Palestine protestors in the Netherlands are sticking with that story as truth no longer gets in the way of greenlighting more gaslighting of Israel.

The finale did not go well for Eurovision’s boss Martin Österdahl, who was also booed because of Joost’s exclusion or Israel’s inclusion or the voting itself, which some wise ass on X proclaimed to be the work of Mossad.

Finding Nemo – Switzerland’s pink-skirted non-binary entrant – to be the winner in no way deprived Eden of victory. That she was able to perform like a pro despite the bullying and ostracising only made us love her more, but understandably she broke down in tears when she landed back home.

“It was a great honour to be there and that I had the opportunity to represent our country, especially in these times,” said Eden. “My song gave a voice to those that need to be returned home.”

There was only one real winner at Eurovision.