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Protests and boos at Eurovision, here's how Israeli singer Noam Bettan reacts
2026-05-14 00:33:26 / SHOWBIZ
Israel's representative in the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, Noam Bettan, has said he was surprised by the protests that interrupted his performance during the first semi-final in Vienna. According to reports, during the performance of the song "Michelle", whistles and chants of "Stop the genocide" were heard in the Wiener Stadthalle, while some protesters were pushed away by security.
In an interview with the BBC , Bettan said he was aware of the tensions before the performance, but the audience's reaction still shocked him. "I heard the boos and everything. It was a moment of shock for me," he said.
Israel's participation in Eurovision continues to cause controversy due to the war in Gaza. Five European public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted this year's edition, arguing that Israel's participation conflicts with their public values.
On the other hand, Israeli broadcaster Kan described the boycott as "cultural" and a blow to freedom of expression. Bettan expressed hope that the boycotting countries will return to future editions of the festival.
The war in Gaza began after Hamas launched an attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 72,000, a figure considered generally credible by the UN. Israel has denied accusations of genocide against Palestinians.
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