Israel’s representative at the Eurovision Song Contest, Noam Bettan, has spoken out after protests disrupted his semi-final performance in Vienna, admitting he was “shocked” by chants and boos from sections of the audience.
During Tuesday night’s show at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle, several audience members were removed after chants of “stop the genocide” were heard while Bettan performed on stage. One protester reportedly had “Free Palestine” written across his chest.
Speaking after the performance, Bettan said he had anticipated some reaction due to the ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in the competition but was still surprised by the intensity inside the arena.
“I heard there was booing and everything, and there was a moment of shock,” Bettan said, adding that he focused on supporters in the crowd to stay composed during the performance.
Israel’s involvement in Eurovision has remained highly controversial since the outbreak of the Gaza war in 2023. This year, public broadcasters from Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted the contest in protest against Israel’s inclusion.
Irish broadcaster RTÉ described participation as “unconscionable” due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, while Dutch broadcaster Avrotros stated the event no longer aligned with its public values. Israeli broadcaster Kan criticized the withdrawals as a “cultural boycott” that harms freedom of expression.
Human rights organization Amnesty International also condemned the European Broadcasting Union for allowing Israel to compete amid the ongoing conflict.
The war began after the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in hundreds of hostages being taken. Israel’s military response in Gaza has since led to tens of thousands of deaths, according to Gaza health officials. Israel has denied accusations of genocide made by Amnesty International and other human rights groups.
Despite the controversy, Bettan said he received a warm welcome from many fans in Vienna and remained focused on spreading positivity through music.
The singer also addressed criticism over a deleted social media post in which he encouraged fans to use all 10 of their Eurovision votes to support Israel during Saturday’s grand final. Organizers later warned Israel’s broadcaster after ruling the message violated the spirit of the competition.
Eurovision director Martin Green said organizers prefer dialogue over sanctions and emphasized the importance of resolving disputes peacefully.
Bettan has now qualified for Saturday’s Eurovision grand finale, where his song is expected to place among the top contenders despite continued political tensions and planned demonstrations outside the event venue.