The Netherlands won the 64thEurovision Song Contest in Israel on Sunday in a songfest that passed offwithout serious incident, despite calls by pro-Palestinian groups to boycottthe event.
Dutch singer-songwriter DuncanLaurence beat 25 other contestants in the grand final in Tel Aviv to win theglass microphone trophy. The 25-year-old favourite won 492 points with hispiano ballad "Arcade" about a failing relationship. His victory givesthe Netherlands the right to host the 2020 finals. Italy came second, with 465points, and Russia third, with 369.
After receiving the prize fromlast year's winner, Israeli singer Netta Barzilai, Laurence said he hoped hehad touched listeners. "Believe in your music, believe in yourartistry," he said.
This year's competition was morepolitical than usual, held against the backdrop of a campaign by the Boycott,Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement that urged artists, fans and broadcastersto shun the event to protest against Israeli policies in the West Bank andGaza. But no singers or broadcasters pulled out, and only a small crowd ofprotesters turned up outside the venue. However pop superstar Madonna sprang asurprise during her guest performance of two songs – her iconic 1989 hit "LikeA Prayer" and a new number, "Future," sung alongside the American rapper Quavo.At the close of the second number, two backing dancers briefly appeared onstage wearing the Israeli and Palestinian flags on the back of their costumes.
The European Broadcasting Union,which co-produced the contest alongside Israel's national broadcaster, issued astatement immediately after her performance. "This element of theperformance was not cleared with the EBU and the Host Broadcaster, KAN. TheEurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been madeaware of this," it said.
The 60-year-old singer, who is afollower of the mystical form of Judaism called Kabbalah, had faced criticismfrom pro-Palestinian activists for performing at the event. She defended herdecision, issuing a statement earlier in the week that she would always speakup to defend human rights, and that she hoped to see "a new path toward peace."
Hatari, Iceland's entrant, drewboos from the audience when the band held up small Palestinian banners live onair during voting. The EBU said the political display "directlycontradicts the contest rules."
