The Netherlands won the 64th Eurovision Song Contest in Israel on Sunda,y in a songfest that passed off without serious incident, despite calls by pro-Palestinian groups to boycott the event.
Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence beat 25 other contestants in the grand finale in Tel Aviv to win the glass microphone trophy.
The 25-year-old favorite won 492 points with his piano ballad "Arcade" about a failing relationship. His victory gives the Netherlands the right to host the 2020 finals. Italy came in second, with 465 points and Russia third, with 369.
After receiving the prize from last year's winner, Israeli singer Netta Barzilai, Laurence said that he hoped he had touched listeners. "Believe in your music, believe in your artistry," he said.
This year's competition was more political than usual, held against the backdrop of a campaign by the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement that urged artists, fans and broadcasters to shun the event.
But no singers or broadcasters pulled out, and only a small crowd of protesters turned up outside the venue.
However, pop superstar Madonna sprang a surprise during her guest performance of two songs - her iconic 1989 hit "Like A Prayer" and a new number, "Future," sung alongside the American rapper Quavo.
At the close of the second number, two backup dancers briefly appeared on stage 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 a statement immediately after her performance. "This element of the performance was not cleared with the EBU and the Host Broadcaster, Kan. The Eurovision Song Contest is a nonpolitical event and Madonna had been made aware of this," it said.
The 60-year-old singer, who is a follower of the mystical form of Judaism called Kabbalah, had faced criticism for performing at the event.
She defended her decision, issuing a statement earlier in the week that she would always speak up to defend human rights and that she hoped to see "a new path toward peace."
Hatari, Iceland's entrant, drew boos from the audience when the band held up small Palestinian banners live on air during voting. The EBU said that the political display "directly contradicts the contest rules."
