Israel Faces Boos as Five Countries Exit Eurovision Semi-Final
Israel’s Eurovision contestant, Noam Bettan, was booed during his performance at the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Austria, even as he secured a place in Saturday’s grand finale.
The 28-year-old singer received a mixed reaction from the audience at the Wiener Stadthalle. Some spectators shouted before his performance and booed during quieter moments of his song, Michelle.
Despite the reaction, Israel advanced to the final alongside Moldova, Sweden, Croatia, Greece, Finland, Belgium, Lithuania, Poland and Serbia following a public vote.
Meanwhile, Portugal, Georgia, Montenegro, Estonia and San Marino were eliminated from the competition.
San Marino’s performance featured veteran British pop star Boy George, who joined contestant Senhit on stage for the song Superstar, which he co-wrote.
Before Bettan’s performance on Tuesday, BBC Eurovision commentator Rylan Clark acknowledged the controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in this year’s contest.
After finishing his performance, Bettan thanked the audience, saying: “Thank you so much.”
He performed inside a large diamond-shaped stage prop while dressed in black and accompanied by female dancers wearing black-and-white bodysuits.
Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision has sparked protests in Vienna amid the ongoing war in Gaza. Reports said demonstrations were held across the Austrian capital, while Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Spain and Slovenia boycotted the event in protest.
Russia was banned from Eurovision following its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but Israel has remained in the competition despite growing criticism.
Israel’s 2025 entrant, Yuval Raphael, finished runner-up after winning the public vote, before jury votes handed victory to Austria’s JJ.
During Raphael’s performance last year, two protesters reportedly attempted to storm the stage and throw paint.
Speaking to the Press Association, UK entrant Look Mum No Computer, whose real name is Sam Battle, defended the audience’s right to express opinions during the contest.
“People can be themselves, and they can also express their opinions,” he said.
Battle added that Eurovision audiences this year were largely unrestricted, with live crowd reactions and approved flags allowed inside the venue.
Elsewhere during Tuesday’s semi-final, Moldova’s Satoshi opened the show with Viva, Moldova!, while Croatia’s Lelek delivered a fantasy-themed performance featuring face tattoos.
Greece’s entrant Akylas appeared in a tiger-print outfit, while Lithuania’s Lion Ceccah drew attention with a gothic-inspired performance that included silver body paint and a Grim Reaper-style costume.
Serbian metal band Lavina also embraced a dark gothic theme during their performance.
Finland’s violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen performed their orchestral pop entry Liekinheitin, considered one of the bookmakers’ favourites to win the competition.
Italy’s Sal Da Vinci and Germany’s Sarah Engels also performed during the semi-final but had already secured automatic qualification as members of Eurovision’s “Big Four” financial contributors.
