Heckler ejected from Eurovision after Israel song disruption / Photo: Tobias SCHWARZ - AFP
Heckler ejected from Eurovision after Israel song disruption
Four people were thrown out of the first Eurovision Song Contest semi-final, which saw attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, organisers said Wednesday.
As 28-year-old Israeli singer Noam Bettan began his performance of "Michelle" during Tuesday's live show, a protester could be heard shouting "Stop, stop the genocide", and "Free, free Palestine".
Israel's participation in Eurovision 2026 has caused Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia to pull out of the world's biggest live televised music event.
Besides unease at the conduct of Israel's war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip, suspicions were also raised that the televoting system was being manipulated to boost Israel last year.
Some participating broadcasters also raised concerns about media freedom, with Israel preventing their journalists from accessing Gaza.
Eurovision is run by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), the world's biggest alliance of public-service media.
In a joint statement, Austrian host broadcaster ORF and the EBU said: "An audience of 10,000 fans in the Wiener Stadthalle at the first semi-final of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna greeted every artist enthusiastically.
"ORF is broadcasting a clean audio feed live from audience microphones before and during every performer's song.
"One audience member, close to a microphone, loudly expressed their views as the Israeli artist began his performance, and during the song, which was heard on the live broadcast. They were later removed by security for continuing to disturb the audience.
"Three other people were also removed from the arena by security for disruptive behaviour."
Asked shortly before the semi-final whether Eurovision had plans to lower the crowd volume on the broadcast in case there were attempts to disrupt Israel's performance, executive producer Michael Kroen had insisted: "The crowd volume will be the same for all the contestants."
Fifteen countries were competing in the first semi, with Bettan among the 10 who progressed to Saturday's grand final, following combined votes from the public and professional juries in participating countries.
"I was free, I was me, I was authentic, I felt like my voice is in a good place... and I enjoyed every moment," Bettan said afterwards.
"There were moments when I felt that I'm just singing to my people back home."
On Tuesday, a few dozen pro-Palestinian activists placed coffins in central Vienna in protest at Israel's participation.
Further demonstrations are planned in the Austrian capital during the rest of Eurovision week.
P.Walsh--IP
