Gåte considered withdrawing from Eurovision up until the very last second. That’s according to the group’s guitarist Magnus Børmark.
Speaking to the Norwegian newspaper Aftenposten, Magnus suggested that Israel’s participation, with the war in Gaza as a backdrop, made it difficult for contestants to focus solely on the music.
“Withdrawing was on the block until the last second,” he said. “We eventually had constructive talks with the EBU. Things were just good enough to carry on.”
The “Ulveham” performer said that the tense atmosphere forced artists into a political role, placing an heavy burden on everyone’s shoulders.
Large protests around the city called for the EBU to ban the country from the event. The EBU has consistently said the song contest in a non-political event and a competition between broadcasters and not governments.
“It seemed as if there was one set of rules for Israel, another for the rest,” Magnus said. “There is something wrong when you experience it. The artists should not have to have a crisis meeting with the EBU,” he says.
Magnus also criticised the security arrangements for Israel, saying they didn’t always seem peaceful.