Almost a week after pro-Palestinian protesters painted Gaza-related slogans on the contest's signs around the city of Malmo, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) condemned the vandalism but said it was understandable.
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The EBU condemned the trashing of the Eurovision billboards in Sweden, telling Ynet: "We understand the concerns and valid opinions surrounding the current war in the Middle East, and that people want their voices heard," They said. "However, we unequivocally denounce any acts of vandalism related to Eurovision."
Last week, while a security team from Shin Bet was inspecting preparations to secure the Israeli Eurovision delegation, vandals sprayed graffiti reading "Free Gaza" on Eurovision billboards in Malmo and defaced others by splashing them with red paint.
Despite a prompt request for comment from Ynet on the same day, the EBU did not respond until a the question was posed, a second time. It's worth noting that when it came to approving the Israeli song for Eurovision, official responses came much more swiftly.
There is concern in Israel, that due to the existing antisemitism in the city hosting this year's competition and the ongoing war, the security surrounding singer Eden Golan, who will represent Israel with the song "Hurricane," will be significantly tighter than in previous years. In closed-door discussions, security officials said they are prepared for any scenario.