Israel's Noam Bettan Says 13,000-Seat Eurovision Semi-Final Shocked Him as 5 Broadcasters Boycott
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 13
Israel's Noam Bettan Says 13,000-Seat Eurovision Semi-Final Shocked Him as 5 Broadcasters Boycott
4 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 13
Several audience members were removed from Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle after chants of "stop the genocide" disrupted Noam Bettan's semi-final performance, which the Israeli singer said left him briefly shocked.
Bettan said he had practised for booing but could not replicate a 13,000-person arena, adding that he refocused on supportive flags and still delivered a confident set that qualified for Saturday's final.
Five public broadcasters — Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia — are boycotting this year's contest over Israel's participation, making Eurovision its smallest since 2003.
The backlash stems from the Gaza war that began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel; more than 72,740 people have since been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry.
Bettan also drew a formal warning after urging fans to use all 10 votes for Israel, but Eurovision organizers said disqualification was far off as further protests are planned before the grand final.
Can Israel's multi-million dollar PR campaign overcome global boycotts to win the Eurovision televote again?
Is Eurovision's inclusion of Israel a principled stand for art, or a political double standard compared to Russia's ban?
Record Boycotts and Political Protests Mark Eurovision 2026 as Israel Reaches Final
Overview
Noam Bettan, representing Israel, advanced to the Eurovision 2026 final after performing his song 'Michelle' in Vienna. The semi-final was marked by a highly charged and polarized atmosphere, with significant boos and chants of 'Stop the genocide' from parts of the audience. Despite the tension, Bettan addressed the crowd in English, French, and Hebrew, reflecting the song's multilingual nature. Israel's participation sparked major controversy, but Austrian politicians firmly supported allowing a Jewish artist to perform, even stating Austria would refuse to host Eurovision if Israel were excluded. This strong political stance highlighted the deep divisions and complex context surrounding the event.