{"id":644496,"date":"2019-05-19T11:08:29","date_gmt":"2019-05-19T11:08:29","guid":{"rendered":"
\"Madonna<\/p>\n
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\"Madonna<\/div>\n

Madonna\u2019s anticipated guest performance during the Eurovision Song Contest in Israel sparked controversy in the final moments of the show.<\/p>\n

The star appeared on Saturday draped in a black cape and a black eye-patch during her performance of 1989 hit \u201cLike A Prayer,\u201d and new single \u201cFuture\u201d.<\/p>\n

At the close of her second number, two backing dancers each wearing a respective flag from Israel and Palestine, walked arm in arm, in an act that was perceived as a political statement on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.<\/p>\n

The performance also saw dancers falling to the ground while wearing gas masks, and concluded with Madonna and the US rapper Quavo walking together as the words \u201cwake up\u201d appeared behind them.<\/p>\n

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#Madonna<\/a> may have sounded flat but she won my heart tonight \u2013 being an artist is not always about having a perfect voice, but having something inspiring to say, and knowing how to deliver the message. She did outperform everyone else and she was #ArealQueen<\/a>. #MadonnaEurovision<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/GE6Axyr6XX<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Rosa Martinez (@RosaMartinezUK) May 18, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The European Broadcasting Union, which co-produced the contest alongside Israel\u2019s national broadcaster, issued a statement immediately after.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis element of the performance was not cleared with the EBU and the Host Broadcaster, KAN. The Eurovision Song Contest is a non-political event and Madonna had been made aware of this,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n

The 60-year-old singer\u2019s participation in the event brought protests from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement earlier.<\/p>\n

BDS has for years been pushing for investors and artists to shun Israel over its decades-long occupation of Palestinian territories, and led calls for a boycott of this year\u2019s Eurovision, calling it an \u201cart-wash\u201d.<\/p>\n

She defended her decision, issuing a statement earlier in the week saying that she would always speak up to defend human rights, and that she hoped to see \u201ca new path toward peace\u201d.<\/p>\n

After her performance some condemned her decision to make a statement, while others praised her for using her platform to make a point.<\/p>\n

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Very good @Madonna<\/a> @Quavo<\/a> majestically performance 👏👏🔝🔝❤️❌❤️❌#Eurovision2019<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/T6hSR4zwa3<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Katiababy (@KatiaC72) May 19, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Some were not so receptive towards her message.<\/p>\n

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As well as being off-key and a poor performer, Madonna managed to violate the EBU\u2019s principle of non-political engagement by adding the Israeli and Palestinian flags to the back of two dancers backs. What a waste of money she was #Eurovision2019<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/jCsK1YcUq8<\/p>\n

\u2014 Luke Baker (@BakerLuke) May 18, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

But Madonna was not the only one to raise controversy.<\/p>\n

Hatari, Iceland\u2019s entrant, drew boos from the audience when the band held up small Palestinian banners live on air during voting. The EBU said the political display \u201cdirectly contradicts the contest rules\u201d.<\/p>\n

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Iceland win our hearts
thanks from Palestine .#BoycottEurovision2019<\/a> #Eurovision2019<\/a> #Eurovision<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/F2zRx3AY2h<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Palestine Alqadi (@ALQadiPAL) May 18, 2019<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Sublime and powerful<\/strong><\/p>\n

Israel won the right to host the extravaganza thanks to last year\u2019s victory by Israeli singer Netta Barzilai, who opened the show on Saturday night at a Tel Aviv concert hall.<\/p>\n

At a beach across town, crowds gathered to party at a Eurovision Village set up for the event.<\/p>\n

After performances by all 26 finalists, Duncan Laurence of the Netherlands took the prize with the stirring power ballad \u201cArcade\u201d.<\/p>\n

Italy finished second and Russia third in the results that combined votes from juries from participating countries as well as viewers at home.<\/p>\n

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Twitter that he had spoken to Laurence and congratulated him, calling his performance \u201csublime and powerful\u201d.<\/p>\n

Rival Palestinian contest<\/strong><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Palestinians, Israeli and international activists planned a simultaneous alternative event dubbed \u201cGlobalvision\u201d.<\/p>\n

Parties were to take place in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Haifa in northern Israel \u2013 home to a significant Arab population \u2013 and London and Dublin.<\/p>\n

Anti-occupation NGO Breaking the Silence erected a billboard in Israel with the slogan \u201cDare to Dream of Freedom,\u201d playing on the 2019 contest\u2019s slogan \u201cDare to Dream\u201d.<\/p>\n

The performances were live streamed around the world on the night of Eurovision\u2019s finale in Tel Aviv.<\/p>\n

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