Eurovision is finally here! The glitz and glam of the stage shines behind the talented singers representing their countries. Every year, a contest between all the European countries— along with Israel, Australia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Morocco, and Armenia—takes place in the middle of May. This contest is meant to be a light-hearted celebration of music, peace, and—in general—fun, but every year there seems to be a conflict with one country specifically…Israel. The constant bombardment of the Israeli delegation for the contest occurs every single year, but it’s not just from the antisemitic crowds in the country; it’s also from the other countries’ delegations.
Since joining the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in 1973, Israel has constantly faced criticism and judgment surrounding its participation in the song contest. While the competition is supposed to celebrate unity through music, politics very often overshadows the performances, especially when it comes to the Israeli delegation. Protestors, audience members, and even other contestants have repeatedly targeted Israeli performers, going against everything that Eurovision is meant to be about.
This year, the controversy has become even more intense, with many artists, broadcasters, and fans calling for boycotts of the competition because of Israel’s participation, and countries withdrawing from the contest. Some delegations and viewers have openly criticized the EBU for allowing Israel to compete, while protests outside the venue become aggressive, dominating headlines. Instead of focusing on the music itself, Eurovision has once again become engulfed in politics and division.
Unfortunately, this hatred toward Israeli performers is definitely not new. In 2024, Israeli singer Eden Golan faced major backlash before and during the contest in Malmö, Sweden due to the contest being a few short months after October 7. Protestors gathered outside of the arena calling for her death, online campaigns demanded for her to be removed, and she was loudly booed during rehearsals and performances. Despite this, Golan continued to perform professionally even under extreme pressure.
Other Israeli contests have also experienced similar treatment over the years. In 2018, when Netta Barzilai won Eurovision with her song “Toy,” celebrations of her victory were very quickly overshadowed by political criticism aimed at Israel rather than her achievement as an artist. In 2019, Israel host contestant Kobi Marimi also faced protests and backlash surrounding Israel hosting the competition in Tel Aviv. Time and time again, Israeli artists are forced to keep their guards up so nothing happens to them on stage.
Now in 2026, Israeli contestant Noam Betan has become the latest performer caught in the same cycle of hate. Before even stepping a foot on the stage, Betan has already faced criticism, protests, and hostility for simply representing his country at Eurovision. Rather than being judged only on his talent, vocals, or stage presence, the conversation surrounding his performance has yet again shifted towards politics. The fact Israeli contestants continue to face this level of pressure year after year shows how Eurovision’s message of unity often fails when it comes to Israel’s participation.
Despite all of the antisemitism surrounding Israel’s participation this year, Noam Betan has officially made it through to the Eurovision finals. His skill proves that, even in the constant facing of criticism, his talent and perseverance can still shine through. For many fans, Betan reaching the finals represents more than just moving on in a competition; it symbolizes resilience under pressure and the refusal to let hatred silence the Israeli artists on the stage. As Eurovision moves into its final performances, many viewers hope the focus can finally return to what the contest was originally created for: music and unity between the countries.
