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Noam Bettan, Israel's representative at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, is set to perform his song "Michelle" in the final on Saturday night in Vienna. Bettan advanced from the first semifinal on May 12 after a performance that the Jerusalem Post described as "stunning," making him one of ten performers to reach the final. His journey to the final has been accompanied by both enthusiastic fan support and significant controversy, including boycotts from five countries and anti-Israel protests in Vienna.
Coverage comparison
According to the Jerusalem Post, Bettan's preparation for the final has been marked by a series of successful rehearsals. In his first rehearsal on May 3, he performed "Michelle" with his five backup dancers, debuting new costumes and a diamond-shaped backdrop. The second rehearsal on May 6 featured a more polished version of the performance, with the diamond structure rotating and opening "like a flower." A dress rehearsal on May 11 was described as "confident and emotional," with professional juries from 15 countries scoring the performance.
The Jerusalem Post also reported that Bettan arrived in Vienna on May 1 with the Israeli delegation, exuding high spirits despite security concerns. The delegation's security is managed by the Shin Bet, Israel's security agency, and Austrian police have announced heightened security measures for the event. The FBI has established a task force in New York to help local police monitor cyber threats, particularly targeting voting systems and the broadcast infrastructure of ORF, Austria's public broadcaster.
Bettan's path to the final was not without incident. During his semifinal performance, audience members were heard yelling "Genocide," a disruption that the Jerusalem Post reported was met with the protesters being dragged away from the auditorium. A large anti-Israel protest was held in Vienna's main square on Friday, coinciding with Nakba Day, with a smaller protest on Saturday.
Key claims
The Jerusalem Post reports that Bettan will perform "Michelle" in French, Hebrew, and English. The song was written by Bettan with Yuval Raphael, Israel's 2025 Eurovision contestant, along with Tzlil Klifi and Nadav Aharoni.
Five countries—Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Spain—are boycotting the competition because the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) did not hold a vote to remove Israel, according to the Jerusalem Post.
Bettan advanced to the final after placing among the top ten in the first semifinal. Prior to the semifinal, he was ranked sixth in betting odds; after his performance, he moved to fourth place, then to fifth a day later.
Security is a major concern for the Israeli delegation. The Shin Bet continues to protect Israeli performers and crew, and Austrian police are preparing for a week of heightened security. The FBI is supporting local police with a dedicated task force focused on cyber threats.
A large anti-Israel protest was held in Vienna's main square on Friday, coinciding with Nakba Day. The protest was billed as a "concert against genocide," according to the Jerusalem Post, which cited Ynet's report that hundreds attended.
The Jerusalem Post reports that the winner is predicted to be Finland, followed by Australia, Bulgaria, and Greece. Bettan is expected to win the televoting, as Yuval Raphael did in 2025, though the final result is determined by a 50-50 combination of jury and audience votes.