Israel meets the Eurovision final requirements after protests violate rehearsal

Israel qualified for the big Eurovision final on Saturday, hours after protesters tried to disrupt the rehearsal of the country’s dress.

The 24 -year -old Juvel Rafael was performing the new day will rise during a visual show on Thursday afternoon, when six people with whistles and “big” Palestinian flags impeded her act. According to the rules of the arena, all flags are allowed, but there are restrictions on size.

Swiss operator SRG SSR, which organizes the event, said the audience members were quickly dumped by Saint Jacobshale ArenaS

Israel’s participation in Eurovision is a source of dispute, as its military is strengthening the bombing of Gaza and imposing blockades of all food and other humanitarian supplies.

In recent weeks, television operators in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called for a debate on Israel’s participation and there are small protests on the streets of Basel, Switzerland, where this year’s race takes place.

The incident during the rehearsal of the dress on Thursday did not break Rafael’s performance and her appearance in the television semi -final passed without further demonstrations.

Speaking to the BBC earlier this weekRafael said her team played noise on the audience over her rehearsals, “So I can train when there is scattering in the background.”

The singer shook her hands, then blown up a kiss to the sky when she was announced that she would go to the final.

Despite the continued tension, her song is currently among the favorites she has to win, according to bookmakers.

The 10 acts that succeeded in the public vote on Thursday were:

• Armenia: Parg – survived
• Austria: JJ – Propylena Love
• Denmark: Sissal – Hallucination
• Finland: Erika Vikman – Ich Kemme
• Greece: Piano – Asteromas
• Israel: Jual Rafael – The new day will rise
• Latvia: People’s daughter – the happiness of Bur
• Lithuania: catharsis – your eyes
• Luxembourg: Laura Thorne – the doll rises sound (Pictured)
• Malta: Miriana Conte – Serving

Which means the six countries are eliminated are Australia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Ireland, Montenegro and Serbia.

Australia’s elimination was the biggest shock. Their pop-chimne of the milky shake, loaded with hints, had received a warm intake before the race, but at night the viewers proved to be lactose intolerable.

Ireland also collapsed, a year after Bambi’s left won the country sixth.

The country no longer managed to qualify for eight of its last 10 attempts. Continuing this losing series will lead to a lot of demand for a soul in the nation, which is bound by Sweden for the most Eurovision victories of all time: a total of seven.

The second semi -finals also gave viewers their first chance to see the UK act, remember Monday.

The girls group conveyed a whimsical production of their song “What the hell just happened?” “Dancing around a fallen chandelier in Bridgerton -inspired outfits as they sang around a messy tile night.

With seamless three -piece harmonies, they leave the perverted vocal performances that were struck by Ollie Alexander and May Müller in 2024 and 2023.

And so far they have been spared by the public vote. The United Kingdom automatically qualifies for the final as one of the “big five” countries that make huge financial contributions to Eurovision.

Currently, the Swedish entrance KAJ is the favorites for winning the competition in 2025, with their sweaty sauna hymn bar Basta Bati.

The Austrian counter-staff JJ, whose opera pop song loses love is the second favorite, was one of the 10 acts voted after the show on Thursday.

In attracting attention, the 24-year-old was thrown around the stage in a debauchery sailing boat, reflecting the stormy emotional waters of his texts.

Elsewhere, the competition had all the traditional Eurovision traps: Spandex, sequins, windshields for bullies and not less than 10 changes to the scene costume.

The newer elements included “sand tornado” during the presentation of France, and Maltese racer Miriana Conte, bouncing a bright red medicine ball for her anthem for self-government, service.

The Tautumeitas Latvian folk group uses a more ethereal approach with their close Bur Man Laimi spell, which is literally translated as a “chanting for happiness.”

Dressed in gold bodysuits with a branch and a vine detail, they transported the audience to an enchanted forest for a song that emphasizes the connection between humanity and nature.

The group was considered an appearance for the finale, but skipped over songs from a higher profile from Ireland and the Czech Republic – precisely because they stood out.

Finnish singer Erika Vikman was also made, who finished the show with a thunder.

Her song Ich Kome is a sex-positive anthem club, which he saw with the singer rising above the audience, a giant, refractory gold microphone.

Like her, she rose in the big final on Saturday – where the song has planned to land in the top 10.

The Saturday show will be held at Basel’s St. Jackboshale at 8:00 pm / 21:00 Swiss Time.

The ceremony will be broadcast live on BBC One and BBC Radio 2, with a full live comment on the BBC News website.