Israel has competed in Eurovision for more than 50 years, and won four times. But its participation has been contested since it launched a war in Gaza<\/a> after 1,200 people were killed in a Hamas<\/a>-led cross-border attack on Oct. 7, 2023. More than 73,000 Palestinians<\/a> have been killed since the war began, according to the territory\u2019s Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-run government and whose detailed records are viewed as generally reliable by the international community.<\/p>\n Israel\u2019s government has repeatedly defended its campaign as a response to the Oct. 7 attack. But a number of experts, including those commissioned by a United Nations<\/a> body, have said that Israel\u2019s offensive in Gaza amounts to genocide. Israel, home to many Holocaust survivors and their relatives, has vigorously denied the claim.<\/p>\n The latest Israel-Hezbollah<\/a> war in Lebanon<\/a> and the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran<\/a> have driven tensions still higher.<\/p>\n The 2024 Eurovision contest in Malmo<\/a>, Sweden<\/a>, and last year\u2019s event in Basel<\/a>, Switzerland<\/a>, saw pro-Palestinian protests that called for Israel to be expelled. Five countries \u2014 Iceland<\/a>, Ireland<\/a>, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain \u2014 pulled out of the 2026 contest after organizers allowed Israel to compete.<\/p>\n The tensions have produced a Eurovision of two halves. An upbeat party atmosphere prevails inside the Wiener Stadthalle arena and in the separate Eurovision Village fan zone. But getting in means passing through a ring of steel, with searches, scanners and a ban on all bags inside the arena. Armed police are a very visible presence on the streets.<\/p>\n Awareness of risk from terror plots is high in the city after a 21-year-old Austrian man accused of pledging allegiance to the Islamic State group pleaded guilty to plotting to attack a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna in 2024.<\/p>\n Israeli singer Noam Bettan told Israeli media that, like last year\u2019s Israeli competitor Yuval Raphael, he practiced performing while being booed. There were scattered shouts amid the cheers when he performed in the first Eurovision semifinal on Tuesday. He secured a spot in Saturday\u2019s final by being one of the top 10 finishers in voting by viewers and national juries.<\/p>\n Organizers said four people were removed from the 10,000-strong audience for disruptive behavior.<\/p>\n Austrian Eurovision fan Ivo Herzl, who attended the semifinal, said \u201cthe vibe was incredibly positive.\u201d He is showing support for Israel by making and selling Mazel Lov T-shirts \u2014 a play on \u201cmazel tov,\u201d a Hebrew and Yiddish phrase of congratulations.<\/p>\n \u201cVienna has always been a city of tolerance,\u201d Herzl said. \u201cIt\u2019s the city of music and we\u2019ll always do everything possible for everyone to enjoy a musical event.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Police](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/iran\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Austria_Eurovision_Song_Contest_828_4.jpg\")
Police patrols with heavy weapons at the Eurovision Village during the 70th Eurovision Song Contest week in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday, May 13, 2026. (AP Photo\/Martin Meissner) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)<\/p>\n