Malmö, Sweden’s Jewish community is increasingly dwindling, and the city, which has gained a reputation as a center of Islamist anti-Semitism over the past decade, is hosting the Eurovision Song Contest this week on its home turf. There are concerns about targeted attacks as large-scale pro-Palestinian mobilizations gather.
A Jewish resident told a German newspaper. die welt They feel they are “unwelcome.” [their] And we also found that many people simply chose to leave the city during the contest.
“There is a general feeling of uncertainty. They feel unwelcome in their city,” Daniel Janusz, president of the Jewish Youth Association, told a German newspaper. “I know several Jews who want to leave Malmö during the ESC period.”
die welt He noted that Jews across Sweden are increasingly afraid of being seen as visibly Jewish, in response to the country’s growing Muslim immigrant population and a surge in anti-Semitic activity.
“In a survey by the Central Council of Jews in Sweden, three out of four respondents said they were afraid to display Jewish symbols openly.” die welt report. “One in two people are considering deportation.”
The Eurovision Song Contest is an annual event, with 37 countries participating this year, including Israel, sending artists to perform original songs. The best performance, chosen by a popular vote among all participating countries and an elite panel of judges, will win and that country will host the tournament the following year. Sweden is won the most They have competed alongside Ireland in the half-century-old competition, with both having won seven times.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of Sweden winning the contest in 1974 with Abba’s “Waterloo”, which became an international hit.
Israel’s participation has long been controversial, given the rise in anti-Semitism across Europe. This year, the anti-Israel movement galvanized by the brutality of Hamas’s October 7 terrorist siege has fueled further anger over the country’s presence in the song contest.Hamas terrorist massacre 1,200 peopleOn October 7, international leftist and jihadist groups condemned Israel’s attempts to neutralize Iranian-backed jihadists and prevent a repeat of the massacre.
In April, Israeli television network Channel 12 sent Journalists were sent to Malmö to gauge public sentiment ahead of Eurovision. Journalists Ohad Hemo and Elad Simchayov found widespread support for Hamas, including denial of the atrocities committed on October 7, and physical attacks by local residents who identified them as Israeli. and faced verbal abuse.
“Monkeys and pigs have more respect than them. Pigs are much better than Jews. If it were up to me, there would be no Jews on this earth,” one of the local residents told the network. Told.
“I hope they kill you all,” another local shouted as members of Malmö’s Muslim community spat on and threatened journalists.
Swedish authorities have acknowledged an increase in jihadist activity, anti-Semitism and other problems stemming from the creation of a “parallel society” in the country led by radical imams and other Islamists. As a result, the Jewish population declined. die welt He pointed out that Malmö’s Jewish population today is only 1,500, about half what it was in the 1970s. Malmö has seen large anti-Israel protests throughout this week, and authorities expect them to grow even more on Thursday, when Israel advances to the semi-finals, and on Saturday, if Israel advances to the grand final.
The Swedish government rejected pressure to choose another venue for the contest. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the organizer of Eurovision, has also rejected pressure to expel Israel from the contest, but has warned Israeli performer Eden Golan that the lyrics of her song are “political”. I requested that it be changed to a lower level. The song, originally called “October Rain,” paid tribute to the victims of Hamas. The song, now called “Hurricane,” includes many of the original lyrics, but none honoring the children killed by jihadists.
The EBU also issued a message reminding participants that they would not be allowed to display the Palestinian flag, as it does not represent the countries participating in the event. The only non-national flag allowed in Eurovision is the LGBTQIAP2S+ flag.
“ESC is a non-political event,” the contest’s official rules say. “All participating broadcasters, including the host broadcaster, shall be responsible for ensuring that the ESC is not politicized, instrumentalized or otherwise brought into disrepute in any way.”
Israel has also refused to withdraw from the Games, but Israeli security officials have urged people to avoid Malmö during the Games.
Golan himself reportedly Forced She was mostly confined to her hotel room, fearing an attack on herself.of era of israel According to reports on Tuesday, the head of Israel’s top security agency, the Shin Bet, visited Malmö a week before the competition to help arrange security for the Israeli delegation to Eurovision.
Golan is scheduled to take the stage Thursday to perform “Hurricane.”
