Eurovision: Final kicks off overshadowed by Israel dispute

The Eurovision Song Contest final began in Austria's capital Vienna on Saturday night amid a boycott by five countries over Israel's participation.

Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia have pulled out of the world's biggest live music contest, now in its 70th year, in protest at Israel's involvement.

"We will not be in Vienna, ​but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history," Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X on ​Friday.

Dispute over Israel's Gaza campaign casts shadow over Eurovision final

The contest, normally a glitzy affair typically featuring a host of kitsch, upbeat pop acts, has ‌been marred in recent years ⁠by ⁠the dispute over Israel's military offensive in Gaza.

That war, a response to the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023 where around 1,200 people in Israel were killed, resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

The boycott means this year's contest had just 35 entries, the fewest since 2003. The final will only feature 25 acts.

Television viewing figures are expected to be lower than last year's 166 million people, which was more than the 128 million people who watched the Super Bowl.

Israel has condemned the boycott, claiming it is the target of a global smear campaign.

"We're going through some challenging times at the moment," Eurovision Song Contest director Martin Green said before the final began.

Four nations boycott Eurovision over Israel inclusion

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Which countries are tipped to do well?

The overwhelming favorites are Finland's duo of violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen, with their number "Liekinheitin," or "Flamethrower."

Australia's Delta Goodrem is also expected to challenge for the trophy with her song "Eclipse". Goodrem is a household name in Australia, having sold 9 million albums, racking up number-one singles and 17 top-ten hits in her home country.

The winner is set to be unveiled shortly after 1 a.m. local time (2300 GMT), after Eurovision's voting process.

Protesters accuse Eurovision organizers of hypocrisy over Israel

Hours before the final was to get underway, hundreds marched through Vienna shouting "Free, free Palestine" and "boycott Eurovision," under heavy police presence. 

They condemned Eurovision organizers, accusing them of hypocrisy for allowing Israel to compete, as Russia was excluded in 2022 for its invasion of Ukraine.

The Palestinian ambassador in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, told protesters Israel's inclusion was "an insult to art, to culture, to music and to humanity."

Edited by: Rana Taha