Israel's contestant at the Eurovision Song Contest, Noam Bettan, expressed surprise after protests disrupted his semi-final performance on Thursday evening. Several audience members booed and chanted slogans against Israel's participation, leading to a brief interruption of the show.
Bettan, who performed the song "Dancing in the Storm," told reporters backstage that he was taken aback by the intensity of the response. "I came to share my music and represent my country with pride. I was shocked by the hostility," he said.
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, confirmed that security personnel removed a small number of individuals from the venue. In a statement, the EBU said: "We regret that a minority of attendees chose to disrupt the show. Eurovision remains a non-political event, and we encourage all fans to respect the artists."
The incident comes amid ongoing debate over Israel's inclusion in the competition, with some groups calling for a boycott due to the country's policies. Despite the protests, Bettan advanced to the grand final, which is set to take place on Saturday.