The Eurovision Song Contest, celebrating its 70th year in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday, is deeply divided despite its 'United by Music' tagline. Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia, and Iceland have boycotted over Israel's participation, with Noam Bettan performing in the final after advancing from the semi-final on Tuesday.
Controversy and Warnings
Israel's broadcaster KAN received a formal warning from organisers after Bettan posted videos urging viewers to 'vote 10 times for Israel.' The boycotts have financial repercussions, as Eurovision relies on fees from participating broadcasters, many under pressure from funding cuts and social media competition.
Fan Support
Despite the turmoil, fans are rallying. Dean Vuletic, author of Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest, told the BBC: 'When it comes to merchandising and ticket sales, fans fuel this industry. They attend even when mired in controversy.' However, some fan outlets have withdrawn; Ireland's Eirevision podcast stated: 'We no longer recognise the contest we grew up with.'
Director Martin Green defended the event, noting grand final tickets sold out in a record 14 minutes. 'This represents joy, togetherness, and shared experience,' he said.
Audience Reactions
Bettan faced boos from pro-Palestine supporters during his semi-final performance. Austrian broadcaster ORF confirmed several audience members were removed by security. ORF and the EBU stated one person 'loudly expressed their views' and was removed, along with three others for disruptive behaviour.
Betting Odds
Israel is fourth favourite at 11/1, tied with Denmark. Finland leads at 5/6, followed by Australia (7/2) and Greece (13/2).
Political Context
Eurovision has struggled to separate pop from politics. Russia was expelled in 2022 after invading Ukraine. Tensions rose after Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack and Israel's Gaza campaign, which has killed over 70,000. Pro-Palestinian protests have occurred at recent contests, forcing crackdowns on political displays.
Several countries called for Israel's exclusion, but organisers declined. Five countries announced boycotts in December 2024. The EBU has tightened voting rules after allegations of rule-breaking marketing by Israel, halving votes per person to 10 and enhancing safeguards against suspicious activity.
Voting Changes
Israel received 83% of its points from the public last year, finishing second. Winner Austria's Wasted Love got only 41% from the public, relying on juries. Posts from Israel's foreign ministry X account encouraged voting up to 20 times, prompting new rules.
Security is tight in Vienna, with police from across Austria and support from Germany amid planned pro-Palestinian demonstrations.
