Published on
17/05/2026 - 16:35 GMT+2
Israel's Noam Bettan secured second place at Eurovision 2026 despite a number of countries boycotting the event over Israel's inclusion, citing the Gaza war.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has congratulated Bettan for his efforts and told him he had the "gratitude of the entire nation," while also commending him for standing "tall against those hollow verbal potshots."
The buildup to this year's competition had largely focused on the controversy surrounding Israel's entry, with five nations - Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland - pulling out in protest.
