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ISRAEL has ramped up its Eurovision security operation after the country’s entry qualified for the song contest’s final.
It comes after protesters with Palestinian flags tried to disrupt the Israeli contestant’s dress rehearsal yesterday.
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Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the brutal October 7 Hamas attacks, was performing New Day Will Rise when the protesters with “oversized flags and whistles” attempted to obstruct her act.
The 24-year-old managed to survive the massacre at the Nova music festival by hiding under piles of bodies and pretending to be dead.
The disruptive audience members were quickly ejected from the venue, according to Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR.
Director of the European Broadcasting Union Martin Green said: “We did have to tighten up some search security because unfortunately people were concealing oversized flags and whistles, which made it a bit long for people to get in but I’m really pleased that it didn’t happen last night and people were respectful.
“The audiences have been and are brilliant and I truly hope that that is the case for the rest of the weekend.”
Israel’s inclusion in the song contest has been the subject of deep controversy following the country’s intense bombardment of Gaza and its blockade of food and humanitarian supplies.
With protests expected to mount as the Eurovision final in Switzerland approaches, Israel‘s National Security Council (NSC) has put out an advisory to the country’s citizens travelling for the event.
“International events of this type are a prime target for threats and attacks by various terrorist groups,” the council warned.
The NSC, along with Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry, its expected to expand its presence and monitoring activities as the final approaches.
A situation room will operate with two deputies on-site over the weekend to maintain constant communication with Israeli citizens.
Citizens travelling are also required to install the IDF Home Front Command’s emergency alert app to stay alert to any security threats.
Gilad Kariv, chair of Israel’s Knesset Committee on Immigration, Absorption and Diaspora Affairs, said: “Every Israeli currently in Switzerland should make sure the Home Front Command app is installed.
“Anti-Israeli activity poses a risk to Israeli supporters and fans in Basel.
“We requested that the Foreign Ministry’s situation room be fully staffed, with social media monitoring and real-time tracking of planned protests.”
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The NSC advises Israeli citizens to avoid large events affiliated with Israel that don’t offer security protection.
Visitors also warned to stay away from protests and demonstrations, and to ensure they have the phone numbers of local emergency services and the Israeli embassy.
The council further advises Israeli citizens to avoid posting about their location and travel plans on social media.
But the situation room’s head Neria Arnold warned that full details of the security plans could not be revealed to ensure the safety of Israelis and the Israeli delegation.
Arnold said: “All relevant information was shared with the committee but we can’t elaborate in public.
“We have extended the situation room’s operating hours.”
Broadcasters in Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have called in recent weeks for a debate on Israel’s involvement in the contest, according to the BBC.
There have also been some small protests on the streets of Switzerland – this year’s Eurovision host country.
The protest at Raphael’s performance on Thursday’s dress rehearsal did not disrupt her act.
She told the BBC that her team played audience noises over her rehearsals “so I can practise when there is distractions in the background.”
Raphael is considered one of the favourites to win the contest, according to bookmakers – despite the protests and controversies.
Similar security efforts were carried out by Israel at last year’s Eurovision in Sweden too.
Israel’s secret service Shin Bet sent over a delegation of officials to Malmo to help co-ordinate security arrangements.
Meanwhile, organisers have insisted the contest’s voting system is impenetrable amid concerns hackers could influence the results.
Thomas Niedermeyer, the head of the EBU voting system, said: “The Eurovision Song Contest is by far the most secure audience voting in any TV show.
“We take great pride in protecting the old lady. We have extraordinary measures in place to secure the voting, to secure our platforms and the user experience.
“In Cologne alone, over 60 people are working and talking with individual countries to make sure that everything will be in order and so that we have a valid result at the end of Saturday, and a valid winner.”
All bags have already been banned from the St Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, where guests will be forced to go through airport-style security scanners and could be subject to full body searches.
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