Fans welcome Israeli Eurovision singer in Vienna

Israeli Eurovision singer Noam Bettan was welcomed by fans on Sunday at an event in the Austrian capital of Vienna. Fans chanted “Noam! Noam!” as he arrived wearing sunglasses and surrounded by security guards. The singer expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent the Jewish state at Eurovision. 

“I’m so honored to be here and thank you so much for the opportunity,” Bettan said.

“I’m having the most fun time I’ve had in my life. This experience is incredible. The stage is huge. I’m with an amazing crew of amazing dancers,” he continued. “Thank you all for the support and the love."

Bettan, who is performing largely in French with the song “Michelle,” is scheduled to compete in the first semifinal Tuesday night. The second semifinal will be held on Thursday, followed by the final on Saturday, May 16.

Austria, this year’s Eurovision host, decided to increase security around the Israeli singer and his delegation amid ongoing threats against Israel and its representatives.

At last year’s Eurovision in Switzerland, an anti-Israel activist wearing a keffiyeh reportedly approached Israeli singer Yuval Raphael and made a throat-slitting gesture toward her. Raphael, who survived the Nova Music Festival massacre carried out by Hamas terrorists on Oct. 7, 2023, was unharmed in the incident.

Israel’s public broadcaster, KAN, later filed a police complaint and called on the European Broadcasting Union to ban the individual from future Eurovision events. Raphael ultimately finished in second place in the 2025 final.

Israel has participated in the annual Eurovision Song Contest since 1973 and has won the competition four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.

Following the Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7, 2023, and the subsequent war in Gaza, calls to boycott and exclude Israel from Eurovision have intensified. Critics of Israel’s participation have drawn comparisons between Israel’s military campaign against Hamas and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, comparisons rejected by Israeli officials and supporters of the Jewish state.

In December 2025, the Eurovision Song Contest confirmed Israel’s participation in the 2026 competition. The decision prompted Spain, Ireland, Slovenia and the Netherlands to withdraw from the contest in protest.

“If no one was up in arms when Russia began its invasion, and it was exiled from global competitions and Eurovision, then the same should happen with Israel,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said.

Last month, more than 1,000 entertainment figures signed a joint letter supporting Israel’s participation in Eurovision.

“We have been shocked and disappointed to see some members of the entertainment community calling for Israel to be banished from the contest for responding to the greatest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust,” the letter stated. “We believe that unifying events such as singing competitions are crucial to help bridge our cultural divides and unite people of all backgrounds through their shared love of music."

Signatories included Amy Schumer, Liev Schreiber, Mila Kunis, Selma Blair, Julianna Margulies, Debra Messing and Patricia Heaton, along with musicians Boy George, Matisyahu, David Draiman and Jon Ondrasik.