Eurovision host allows boos and Palestinian flags The Austrian broadcaster ORF, host of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, announced it will not ban Palestinian flags from the audience or suppress boos during Israel’s performance. The decision marks a shift from previous editions, where crowd noise was sometimes covered with artificial applause. ORF executives said the broadcaster’s role is to reflect events as they unfold, without sanitizing audience reactions, saying, “We won’t play artificial applause over it at any point.”
The 70th edition of Eurovision, set for May, will feature 35 participating countries, the smallest lineup in over two decades, following boycott decisions by several national broadcasters protesting Israel’s inclusion. Critics cite civilian casualties in Gaza during Israel’s war with Hamas, while Israel rejects the accusations and describes the boycott efforts as discriminatory.
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