MALMO, Sweden — Eden Golan is in Sweden for the Eurovision Song Contest, but she isn't seeing much of the country.
The 20-year-old Israeli singer is surrounded by security as she travels between hotel and the contest venue in the city of Malmo. According to Israel's public broadcaster, she practiced singing while being booed to prepare for her performance in the pan-continental song competition.
Golan has become a focus for protests by pro-Palestinian demonstrators who want Israel kicked out of Eurovision over the war with Hamas, which has killed almost 35,000 people in Gaza. The war began with Hamas' surprise attack into southern Israel in October, in which the militant group killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 250 others hostage.
A crowd estimated by police at more than 10,000 marched through the southern Swedish city on Thursday to chants of ''Free Palestine'' and ''Israel is a terror state.'' Banners accused Eurovision of being complicit in genocide and called for a boycott of the competition.
Another protest march is planned for Saturday, hours before Golan competes in the live Eurovision final against acts from 25 other countries.
One of those 25, the Netherlands' Joost Klein, failed to perform at a dress rehearsal on Friday where he was slotted to appear just before Israel. Organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, gave no explanation but said it was ''currently investigating an incident that was reported to us involving the Dutch artist. He will not be rehearsing until further notice.'' It was unclear whether his absence was related to Israel's participation.
Israel is allowed to compete in Eurovision, even though it's not in Europe, because its national broadcaster belongs to the European Broadcasting Union, whose membership extends beyond the continent.
Golan has largely stayed out of sight in Malmo, apart from rehearsals and performances at the Malmo Arena. While other performers have taken the stage for fans in a Eurovision park in the city, Golan has not.