Israel's Noam Bettan Advances to Eurovision Final Amid Boos and Protests

Israel's Noam Bettan advanced to the Eurovision Song Contest final with his pop song Michelle. The 28-year-old singer sailed through Tuesday's semi-final at Vienna's Wiener Stadhalle despite a mixed reception.

Some audience members booed and shouted anti-Israel slogans as Bettan took the stage. Others chanted his name in support. The protests were audible on the TV broadcast. Australian broadcaster ORF, hosting the event, said it would not censor negative reactions to contestants.

Before the show, Bettan told the Jerusalem Post he planned to focus on the music and treat criticisms as background noise. After the performance, ORF and Eurovision organizers the EBU issued a statement. It said one audience member was close to a microphone and loudly expressed views both before and during Israel's song. Security removed that person for continuing to disturb the audience. Three others were also ejected for disruptive behavior.

The controversy follows years of tension over Israel's military action in Gaza. Five countries, including seven-time winner Ireland, have boycotted the 2026 event.

Ten countries qualified for Saturday's grand final from the semi-final. They include Finland's duo Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkkonen with Liekinheitin (Flamethrower), the current favorite to win. Other qualifiers are Belgium's Essyla with Dancing on the Ice; Croatia's Lelek with Andromeda; Greece's Akylas with Ferto; Lithuania's Lion Ceccah with Sólo Quiero Más; Moldova's Satoshi with Viva, Moldova!; Poland's Alicja with Pray; Serbia's Lavina with Kraj Mene; and Sweden's Felicia with My System.

Estonia, Georgia, Montenegro, Portugal and San Marino were eliminated. San Marino's entry featured British singer Boy George as a guest performer.

The semi-final opened with a film marking Eurovision's 70th birthday. It followed Toni, a young Austrian boy whose love for the contest lasted through decades. The film featured past winners Abba, Sandie Shaw, Conchita Wurst and Nemo. It ended with Toni on stage playing L'amour Est Bleu, originally performed by Vicky Leandros at the 1967 contest when Austria first hosted. Leandros joined him with a 70-member choir.

Moldova's Satoshi opened the performances with the party anthem Viva, Moldova! Sweden's Felicia followed, masked as she sang the dance track My System about catching a fatal infection of love. Croatia's all-female band Lelek delivered folkloric harmonies in Andromeda, about women's suppression during the Ottoman Empire.

Greece's Akylas had the night's most ambitious staging in Ferto. The song contrasted social media materialism with his family's struggles in the 2009-18 Greek financial crisis. Bookmakers give Finland a 34 percent chance to win.

The Finnish duo's performance broke a Eurovision rule. Lampenius, a classical violinist, played her 19th-century Gagliano violin live on stage. It marked only the second time a live instrument has been allowed since 1998.

Italy's Sal Da Vinci sang the disco track Per Sempre Si as a tribute to his wife. Lithuania's Lion Ceccah, painted silver, performed the man-vs-machine anthem Sólo Quiero Más. Serbia's leather-clad metal band Lavina closed with blood-curdling screams in Kraj Mene.

Qualifiers were chosen by public votes and jury scores. Voting rules changed this year after 2025 irregularities. Viewers can now vote only 10 times online, down from 20, and must provide credit card details.

The second semi-final comes Thursday with acts from Denmark and France. Australian pop star Delta Goodrem and Britain's Look Mum No Computer will debut.