Eurovision, Eurovision 2024 | Israel climbs up the Eurovision odds list: – What happened?

It is approaching the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Malmö and this year’s music competition has not passed quietly.

There have been large demonstrations and protests in the Swedish city and when Israeli Eden Golan (20) performed her song on Thursday evening, she was met with both cheers and boos.

Also read: Israel through to the final of the Eurovision Song Contest

Despite the fact that several people have spoken loudly that Israel should not be allowed to participate in Eurovision, they are still in second place on the odds list.

Climbing up

At the time of writing, the big favorite Baby Lasagna from Croatia is at the top of the EurovisionWorld.com odds list. The website has collected data from several odds sites and ranks the various nations’ chances of winning Eurovision.

Also read: Claims Eurovision has hired “clapping machines” for Israel

Before the competition’s second semi-final, Israel was in eighth place, but after Israeli Golan performed the song “Hurricane” on Thursday, the country has climbed to second place on the odds list.

The odds list states that the country has a 17 percent chance of winning. Croatia in first place has a 40 percent chance of winning, while Switzerland in third place has 13 percent.

On the list of who will get the most points from the jury in the final, however, Switzerland is in first place, while Israel is ranked number eight.

Also read: The Eurovision ban arouses reactions: – Tragic

Entertainment commentator in Nettavisen, Maria Ludvigsen, scratches her head over the promotion to Israel:

– Purely in isolation, the song is a good Eurovision song, and the vocalist is good. But it is deeply shocking that Israel now, according to the odds, has a 19 percent chance of winning. The song isn’t that good after all. What happened?, I wonder. Can Israel actually win this year’s Eurovision, Ludvigsen wonders.

However, she believes that Switzerland has the best contribution and should win. The country is currently in third place on the odds list. Ludvigsen also has a sore spot for Norway’s contribution, Gåte:

– Of course, I’m also rooting for Norway, even though we are unfortunately far down on the odds list. Hello Norway, hello Gåte!

With the song “Ulvenham”, Gåte is currently ranked number 14 on the list of who will win, with a chance of winning of 1 percent.

One in five Norwegians will boycott

In a new survey by Respons Analyse, on behalf of VG, one in five Norwegians answered that they will not watch Eurovision this year because of Israel’s participation.

Two out of three Norwegian Eurovision viewers also answer that they think Israel should not be allowed to participate in the popular song contest, according to the VG survey.

Entertainment editor at NRK Charlo Halvorsen says he thinks it is natural that many believe Israel should not be allowed to participate.

– But it is a decision NRK is not involved in, he says to VG.

There is no doubt that the 20-year-old is at the center of this year’s biggest Eurovision controversy, but she is trying to focus on the music.

The artist has been shielded from the massive demonstrations that have taken place in central Malmö on Thursday afternoon. Thousands have gathered to mark opposition to Israel being allowed to participate in the song contest.

– I have not seen the demonstrations. I’m here, I’m focused on music, joy and love, and that’s what matters today, Golan told NTB.