Israel's Eurovision entry faces protests and booing during semi-final performance

Israel's Eurovision contestant Noam Bettan faced protests during his semi-final performance at Vienna's Wiener Stadthalle on Tuesday night, with audience members chanting 'stop the genocide' and one displaying 'Free Palestine' on his chest. Bettan expressed surprise and shock at the disruption but said he focused on supportive flags. Israel's participation has been contentious since the Gaza war began in 2023, leading five countries—Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland, and Slovenia—to boycott this year's event, making it the smallest since 2003. Irish broadcaster RTÉ called involvement 'unconscionable,' while Dutch broadcaster Avrotros deemed it 'incompatible with public values.' Israeli broadcaster Kan described the absences as a 'cultural boycott.' Amnesty International criticized the European Broadcasting Union for allowing Israel to compete, accusing it of 'betraying humanity.' Bettan, 28, expressed hope the boycotting broadcasters would return. He also faced a minor controversy after urging fans to use all 10 votes for Israel, prompting a rebuke from organizers and a warning to Kan. Despite protests, Bettan qualified for Saturday's grand final, where his song is expected to finish in the top five. Austria's broadcaster ORF said it will not ban Palestinian flags or censor booing. The Gaza war, triggered by a Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, has resulted in over 72,740 deaths in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel denies genocide allegations.