Israel's Noam Bettan places second behind Bulgaria at Eurovision
Noam Bettan ended his trilingual "Michelle" with "Am Yisrael Chai" before 160 million viewers, defying boos and a five-country boycott.
Steve Linde
6 mins read
Published by
JNS
Reception at the President's Residence in Jerusalem: from left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino and Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.)
Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished in second place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday night, earning praise from Israeli leaders after a performance that drew strong public support despite anti-Israel protests and boycott campaigns.
Bulgaria's DARA won the contest with the song "Bangaranga," while Australia's Delta Goodrem came in third with "Eclipse."
National pride
Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated Bettan after the results were announced. "You have incredible composure on stage. Thank you so much. You brought honor to the people of Israel," Herzog told the singer in a call. On Monday, May 18, he would meet with Herzog at the President's Residence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Bettan in a call on Sunday morning, noting that he had earned Israel second place for the second year in a row.
Reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalam: From left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino, Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.
"Noam, what an amazing victory; what an achievement! How much pride, strength, confidence, and artistry," Netanyahu said. "You are on a path to greatness. In any case, you have the gratitude of the entire nation. Everyone is very, very proud of you. And you stood tall against those hollow verbal potshots. You did it exactly as it should be done. You did a wonderful job. And I saw that the audience, as usual, was more supportive than the judges. Well done to you!"
In response, Bettan thanked Netanyahu, saying, "I am happy to represent our country. It was a great privilege to bring honor, to represent us in a positive light, and to bring some light and goodness into this world. I have a certain hope, because I felt there was a very great unity last night, and I hope so much that it stays with us and continues in two days, in a year, and in 50 years. I want unity so much, and I truly hope it continues."
The prime minister also conveyed "a special thanks to Kan — the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation — for the production and coverage" of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest from Austria, which aired live for Israeli audiences on television and radio.
Bettan performed "Michelle," a trilingual ballad in English, French and Hebrew, to an estimated global audience of more than 160 million viewers. He concluded the performance with the phrase "Am Yisrael Chai" ("The People of Israel Live"), despite scattered boos and "Free Palestine" heckling.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel surged from eighth place to second after receiving a massive public vote tally, prompting audible boos inside the arena when the results were announced. Five countries — Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands — boycotted this year's competition over Israel's participation.
The contest was also marked by controversy surrounding Israel's promotional campaign. The European Broadcasting Union issued a formal warning to the Kan broadcaster over social media posts encouraging voting for Bettan after critics claimed Israel's campaigning violated Eurovision guidelines.
In response, Kan said it complied with all contest rules but removed the posts immediately. Kan reported that Eurovision organizers declined to use anti-booing audio technology during Bettan's performance, despite its use in previous years. Bettan reportedly rehearsed in advance with simulated crowd boos to prepare for possible disruptions.
Jury points up
Bettan's polished performance ultimately received strong support from viewers across Europe and beyond. Israel received 123 points from the professional juries, placing eighth in that category, and 220 points from viewers worldwide, giving the Israeli singer the second-highest public vote total of the night and 343 points overall.
In a significant shift from previous years, 22 of the 34 national juries awarded points to Israel, including Poland's top "douze points." Other countries awarding jury points to Bettan included France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The stronger jury showing marked a significant improvement over Israel's recent Eurovision performances. In 2025, Yuval Raphael received only 60 jury points despite finishing second overall, while Eden Golan received just 52 jury points in 2024.
"Wow! ... It was crazy. It was fun," Bettan told Kan after leaving the stage. "I love you all. Am Yisrael Chai!"
Before going on stage, Bettan received a video message of support from Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who urged him to ignore the anti-Israel boos and protests. "They don't have any power over you," she said. "You're amazing and you're talented and we're all behind you."
Bettan, 28, the son of French immigrants to Israel who was raised in Ra'anana, has spent almost a decade as a professional performer. Alongside his polished pop image, he also embraces a more traditional Jewish lifestyle and was photographed in Vienna praying and laying tefillin before the Eurovision final.
It marked the second time Israel has finished as runner-up in consecutive years, following back-to-back second-place finishes in 1982 and 1983. The Jewish state first joined Eurovision in 1973 and has won the competition four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israeli President Herzog hosted Bettan, Israel's runner-up representative at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Bettan was joined at the meeting by a delegation from the Israeli broadcaster Kan, led by CEO Golan Yochpaz. The event was conducted in Hebrew.
Sasha Silber reporting for JNS captured the moment with this report:
"The people of Israel love you very much, and when you ended your performance at Eurovision with 'Am Yisrael Chai,' you moved all of our hearts," Herzog told Bettan. "You brought great joy and pride to the people of Israel, and stood courageously in the face of waves of hatred and hostility. You brought Israel's name into almost every home in the world, and I commend you for that."
Singer encourages unity
"It is a great honor for me to be at the President's Residence today, to meet the president of the State of Israel and to receive this embrace and appreciation after this moving journey," Bettan said. "Thank you to everyone who supported, voted and sent love throughout the entire journey. I felt the embrace of the people of Israel at every moment, and it gave me tremendous strength to step onto the stage and give it my all."
In one of the more emotional moments of the meeting, Bettan said he was grateful to have served, even briefly, as a conduit for the love and unity he felt from the Israeli public. "I am happy and proud of the privilege to be a channel for this," he said, noting that the sense of unity reminded him of "difficult moments" the country had endured and made him feel, on a personal level, that "my soul was coming back home."
He added, "I hope this unity will continue tomorrow, and a year from now, and 50 years from now, and into the distant future that awaits our country, God willing." Bettan also urged Israelis to carry that unity into daily life, including ordinary moments "in traffic jams, lines at the post office and the supermarket."
"Precisely in those moments, to manage to be kinder to one another," he said, adding that even when people fall short, they should try to judge one another favorably and "be better to one another and to our neighbors."
Asked about his next chapter, Bettan said he felt "100%" in his calling and planned to release new music and perform live. "What brought me to this point was being who I am, being authentic and genuine," he said. "That's how the music will be too."
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel's Noam Bettan places second behind Bulgaria at Eurovision
Noam Bettan ended his trilingual "Michelle" with "Am Yisrael Chai" before 160 million viewers, defying boos and a five-country boycott.
Steve Linde
6 mins read
Published by
JNS
Reception at the President's Residence in Jerusalem: from left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino and Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.)
Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished in second place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday night, earning praise from Israeli leaders after a performance that drew strong public support despite anti-Israel protests and boycott campaigns.
Bulgaria's DARA won the contest with the song "Bangaranga," while Australia's Delta Goodrem came in third with "Eclipse."
National pride
Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated Bettan after the results were announced. "You have incredible composure on stage. Thank you so much. You brought honor to the people of Israel," Herzog told the singer in a call. On Monday, May 18, he would meet with Herzog at the President's Residence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Bettan in a call on Sunday morning, noting that he had earned Israel second place for the second year in a row.
Reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalam: From left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino, Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.
"Noam, what an amazing victory; what an achievement! How much pride, strength, confidence, and artistry," Netanyahu said. "You are on a path to greatness. In any case, you have the gratitude of the entire nation. Everyone is very, very proud of you. And you stood tall against those hollow verbal potshots. You did it exactly as it should be done. You did a wonderful job. And I saw that the audience, as usual, was more supportive than the judges. Well done to you!"
In response, Bettan thanked Netanyahu, saying, "I am happy to represent our country. It was a great privilege to bring honor, to represent us in a positive light, and to bring some light and goodness into this world. I have a certain hope, because I felt there was a very great unity last night, and I hope so much that it stays with us and continues in two days, in a year, and in 50 years. I want unity so much, and I truly hope it continues."
The prime minister also conveyed "a special thanks to Kan — the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation — for the production and coverage" of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest from Austria, which aired live for Israeli audiences on television and radio.
Bettan performed "Michelle," a trilingual ballad in English, French and Hebrew, to an estimated global audience of more than 160 million viewers. He concluded the performance with the phrase "Am Yisrael Chai" ("The People of Israel Live"), despite scattered boos and "Free Palestine" heckling.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel surged from eighth place to second after receiving a massive public vote tally, prompting audible boos inside the arena when the results were announced. Five countries — Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands — boycotted this year's competition over Israel's participation.
The contest was also marked by controversy surrounding Israel's promotional campaign. The European Broadcasting Union issued a formal warning to the Kan broadcaster over social media posts encouraging voting for Bettan after critics claimed Israel's campaigning violated Eurovision guidelines.
In response, Kan said it complied with all contest rules but removed the posts immediately. Kan reported that Eurovision organizers declined to use anti-booing audio technology during Bettan's performance, despite its use in previous years. Bettan reportedly rehearsed in advance with simulated crowd boos to prepare for possible disruptions.
Jury points up
Bettan's polished performance ultimately received strong support from viewers across Europe and beyond. Israel received 123 points from the professional juries, placing eighth in that category, and 220 points from viewers worldwide, giving the Israeli singer the second-highest public vote total of the night and 343 points overall.
In a significant shift from previous years, 22 of the 34 national juries awarded points to Israel, including Poland's top "douze points." Other countries awarding jury points to Bettan included France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The stronger jury showing marked a significant improvement over Israel's recent Eurovision performances. In 2025, Yuval Raphael received only 60 jury points despite finishing second overall, while Eden Golan received just 52 jury points in 2024.
"Wow! ... It was crazy. It was fun," Bettan told Kan after leaving the stage. "I love you all. Am Yisrael Chai!"
Before going on stage, Bettan received a video message of support from Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who urged him to ignore the anti-Israel boos and protests. "They don't have any power over you," she said. "You're amazing and you're talented and we're all behind you."
Bettan, 28, the son of French immigrants to Israel who was raised in Ra'anana, has spent almost a decade as a professional performer. Alongside his polished pop image, he also embraces a more traditional Jewish lifestyle and was photographed in Vienna praying and laying tefillin before the Eurovision final.
It marked the second time Israel has finished as runner-up in consecutive years, following back-to-back second-place finishes in 1982 and 1983. The Jewish state first joined Eurovision in 1973 and has won the competition four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israeli President Herzog hosted Bettan, Israel's runner-up representative at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Bettan was joined at the meeting by a delegation from the Israeli broadcaster Kan, led by CEO Golan Yochpaz. The event was conducted in Hebrew.
Sasha Silber reporting for JNS captured the moment with this report:
"The people of Israel love you very much, and when you ended your performance at Eurovision with 'Am Yisrael Chai,' you moved all of our hearts," Herzog told Bettan. "You brought great joy and pride to the people of Israel, and stood courageously in the face of waves of hatred and hostility. You brought Israel's name into almost every home in the world, and I commend you for that."
Singer encourages unity
"It is a great honor for me to be at the President's Residence today, to meet the president of the State of Israel and to receive this embrace and appreciation after this moving journey," Bettan said. "Thank you to everyone who supported, voted and sent love throughout the entire journey. I felt the embrace of the people of Israel at every moment, and it gave me tremendous strength to step onto the stage and give it my all."
In one of the more emotional moments of the meeting, Bettan said he was grateful to have served, even briefly, as a conduit for the love and unity he felt from the Israeli public. "I am happy and proud of the privilege to be a channel for this," he said, noting that the sense of unity reminded him of "difficult moments" the country had endured and made him feel, on a personal level, that "my soul was coming back home."
He added, "I hope this unity will continue tomorrow, and a year from now, and 50 years from now, and into the distant future that awaits our country, God willing." Bettan also urged Israelis to carry that unity into daily life, including ordinary moments "in traffic jams, lines at the post office and the supermarket."
"Precisely in those moments, to manage to be kinder to one another," he said, adding that even when people fall short, they should try to judge one another favorably and "be better to one another and to our neighbors."
Asked about his next chapter, Bettan said he felt "100%" in his calling and planned to release new music and perform live. "What brought me to this point was being who I am, being authentic and genuine," he said. "That's how the music will be too."
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel's Noam Bettan places second behind Bulgaria at Eurovision
Noam Bettan ended his trilingual "Michelle" with "Am Yisrael Chai" before 160 million viewers, defying boos and a five-country boycott.
Steve Linde
6 mins read
Published by
JNS
Reception at the President's Residence in Jerusalem: from left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino and Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.)
Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished in second place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday night, earning praise from Israeli leaders after a performance that drew strong public support despite anti-Israel protests and boycott campaigns.
Bulgaria's DARA won the contest with the song "Bangaranga," while Australia's Delta Goodrem came in third with "Eclipse."
National pride
Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated Bettan after the results were announced. "You have incredible composure on stage. Thank you so much. You brought honor to the people of Israel," Herzog told the singer in a call. On Monday, May 18, he would meet with Herzog at the President's Residence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Bettan in a call on Sunday morning, noting that he had earned Israel second place for the second year in a row.
Reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalam: From left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino, Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.
"Noam, what an amazing victory; what an achievement! How much pride, strength, confidence, and artistry," Netanyahu said. "You are on a path to greatness. In any case, you have the gratitude of the entire nation. Everyone is very, very proud of you. And you stood tall against those hollow verbal potshots. You did it exactly as it should be done. You did a wonderful job. And I saw that the audience, as usual, was more supportive than the judges. Well done to you!"
In response, Bettan thanked Netanyahu, saying, "I am happy to represent our country. It was a great privilege to bring honor, to represent us in a positive light, and to bring some light and goodness into this world. I have a certain hope, because I felt there was a very great unity last night, and I hope so much that it stays with us and continues in two days, in a year, and in 50 years. I want unity so much, and I truly hope it continues."
The prime minister also conveyed "a special thanks to Kan — the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation — for the production and coverage" of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest from Austria, which aired live for Israeli audiences on television and radio.
Bettan performed "Michelle," a trilingual ballad in English, French and Hebrew, to an estimated global audience of more than 160 million viewers. He concluded the performance with the phrase "Am Yisrael Chai" ("The People of Israel Live"), despite scattered boos and "Free Palestine" heckling.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel surged from eighth place to second after receiving a massive public vote tally, prompting audible boos inside the arena when the results were announced. Five countries — Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands — boycotted this year's competition over Israel's participation.
The contest was also marked by controversy surrounding Israel's promotional campaign. The European Broadcasting Union issued a formal warning to the Kan broadcaster over social media posts encouraging voting for Bettan after critics claimed Israel's campaigning violated Eurovision guidelines.
In response, Kan said it complied with all contest rules but removed the posts immediately. Kan reported that Eurovision organizers declined to use anti-booing audio technology during Bettan's performance, despite its use in previous years. Bettan reportedly rehearsed in advance with simulated crowd boos to prepare for possible disruptions.
Jury points up
Bettan's polished performance ultimately received strong support from viewers across Europe and beyond. Israel received 123 points from the professional juries, placing eighth in that category, and 220 points from viewers worldwide, giving the Israeli singer the second-highest public vote total of the night and 343 points overall.
In a significant shift from previous years, 22 of the 34 national juries awarded points to Israel, including Poland's top "douze points." Other countries awarding jury points to Bettan included France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The stronger jury showing marked a significant improvement over Israel's recent Eurovision performances. In 2025, Yuval Raphael received only 60 jury points despite finishing second overall, while Eden Golan received just 52 jury points in 2024.
"Wow! ... It was crazy. It was fun," Bettan told Kan after leaving the stage. "I love you all. Am Yisrael Chai!"
Before going on stage, Bettan received a video message of support from Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who urged him to ignore the anti-Israel boos and protests. "They don't have any power over you," she said. "You're amazing and you're talented and we're all behind you."
Bettan, 28, the son of French immigrants to Israel who was raised in Ra'anana, has spent almost a decade as a professional performer. Alongside his polished pop image, he also embraces a more traditional Jewish lifestyle and was photographed in Vienna praying and laying tefillin before the Eurovision final.
It marked the second time Israel has finished as runner-up in consecutive years, following back-to-back second-place finishes in 1982 and 1983. The Jewish state first joined Eurovision in 1973 and has won the competition four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israeli President Herzog hosted Bettan, Israel's runner-up representative at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Bettan was joined at the meeting by a delegation from the Israeli broadcaster Kan, led by CEO Golan Yochpaz. The event was conducted in Hebrew.
Sasha Silber reporting for JNS captured the moment with this report:
"The people of Israel love you very much, and when you ended your performance at Eurovision with 'Am Yisrael Chai,' you moved all of our hearts," Herzog told Bettan. "You brought great joy and pride to the people of Israel, and stood courageously in the face of waves of hatred and hostility. You brought Israel's name into almost every home in the world, and I commend you for that."
Singer encourages unity
"It is a great honor for me to be at the President's Residence today, to meet the president of the State of Israel and to receive this embrace and appreciation after this moving journey," Bettan said. "Thank you to everyone who supported, voted and sent love throughout the entire journey. I felt the embrace of the people of Israel at every moment, and it gave me tremendous strength to step onto the stage and give it my all."
In one of the more emotional moments of the meeting, Bettan said he was grateful to have served, even briefly, as a conduit for the love and unity he felt from the Israeli public. "I am happy and proud of the privilege to be a channel for this," he said, noting that the sense of unity reminded him of "difficult moments" the country had endured and made him feel, on a personal level, that "my soul was coming back home."
He added, "I hope this unity will continue tomorrow, and a year from now, and 50 years from now, and into the distant future that awaits our country, God willing." Bettan also urged Israelis to carry that unity into daily life, including ordinary moments "in traffic jams, lines at the post office and the supermarket."
"Precisely in those moments, to manage to be kinder to one another," he said, adding that even when people fall short, they should try to judge one another favorably and "be better to one another and to our neighbors."
Asked about his next chapter, Bettan said he felt "100%" in his calling and planned to release new music and perform live. "What brought me to this point was being who I am, being authentic and genuine," he said. "That's how the music will be too."
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel's Noam Bettan places second behind Bulgaria at Eurovision
Noam Bettan ended his trilingual "Michelle" with "Am Yisrael Chai" before 160 million viewers, defying boos and a five-country boycott.
Steve Linde
6 mins read
Published by
JNS
Reception at the President's Residence in Jerusalem: from left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino and Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. (Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.)
Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished in second place at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday night, earning praise from Israeli leaders after a performance that drew strong public support despite anti-Israel protests and boycott campaigns.
Bulgaria's DARA won the contest with the song "Bangaranga," while Australia's Delta Goodrem came in third with "Eclipse."
National pride
Israeli President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated Bettan after the results were announced. "You have incredible composure on stage. Thank you so much. You brought honor to the people of Israel," Herzog told the singer in a call. On Monday, May 18, he would meet with Herzog at the President's Residence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Bettan in a call on Sunday morning, noting that he had earned Israel second place for the second year in a row.
Reception at the President’s Residence in Jerusalam: From left, dancer Yasmin Hacmoun, Eurovision runner-up Noam Bettan, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and dancers Eden Zino, Daniel Ben Avraham on May 18, 2026. Photo courtesy of Kobi Gideon/GPO.
"Noam, what an amazing victory; what an achievement! How much pride, strength, confidence, and artistry," Netanyahu said. "You are on a path to greatness. In any case, you have the gratitude of the entire nation. Everyone is very, very proud of you. And you stood tall against those hollow verbal potshots. You did it exactly as it should be done. You did a wonderful job. And I saw that the audience, as usual, was more supportive than the judges. Well done to you!"
In response, Bettan thanked Netanyahu, saying, "I am happy to represent our country. It was a great privilege to bring honor, to represent us in a positive light, and to bring some light and goodness into this world. I have a certain hope, because I felt there was a very great unity last night, and I hope so much that it stays with us and continues in two days, in a year, and in 50 years. I want unity so much, and I truly hope it continues."
The prime minister also conveyed "a special thanks to Kan — the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation — for the production and coverage" of the 70th Eurovision Song Contest from Austria, which aired live for Israeli audiences on television and radio.
Bettan performed "Michelle," a trilingual ballad in English, French and Hebrew, to an estimated global audience of more than 160 million viewers. He concluded the performance with the phrase "Am Yisrael Chai" ("The People of Israel Live"), despite scattered boos and "Free Palestine" heckling.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israel surged from eighth place to second after receiving a massive public vote tally, prompting audible boos inside the arena when the results were announced. Five countries — Spain, Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia and the Netherlands — boycotted this year's competition over Israel's participation.
The contest was also marked by controversy surrounding Israel's promotional campaign. The European Broadcasting Union issued a formal warning to the Kan broadcaster over social media posts encouraging voting for Bettan after critics claimed Israel's campaigning violated Eurovision guidelines.
In response, Kan said it complied with all contest rules but removed the posts immediately. Kan reported that Eurovision organizers declined to use anti-booing audio technology during Bettan's performance, despite its use in previous years. Bettan reportedly rehearsed in advance with simulated crowd boos to prepare for possible disruptions.
Jury points up
Bettan's polished performance ultimately received strong support from viewers across Europe and beyond. Israel received 123 points from the professional juries, placing eighth in that category, and 220 points from viewers worldwide, giving the Israeli singer the second-highest public vote total of the night and 343 points overall.
In a significant shift from previous years, 22 of the 34 national juries awarded points to Israel, including Poland's top "douze points." Other countries awarding jury points to Bettan included France, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Ukraine and Azerbaijan.
The stronger jury showing marked a significant improvement over Israel's recent Eurovision performances. In 2025, Yuval Raphael received only 60 jury points despite finishing second overall, while Eden Golan received just 52 jury points in 2024.
"Wow! ... It was crazy. It was fun," Bettan told Kan after leaving the stage. "I love you all. Am Yisrael Chai!"
Before going on stage, Bettan received a video message of support from Israeli actress Gal Gadot, who urged him to ignore the anti-Israel boos and protests. "They don't have any power over you," she said. "You're amazing and you're talented and we're all behind you."
Bettan, 28, the son of French immigrants to Israel who was raised in Ra'anana, has spent almost a decade as a professional performer. Alongside his polished pop image, he also embraces a more traditional Jewish lifestyle and was photographed in Vienna praying and laying tefillin before the Eurovision final.
It marked the second time Israel has finished as runner-up in consecutive years, following back-to-back second-place finishes in 1982 and 1983. The Jewish state first joined Eurovision in 1973 and has won the competition four times — in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Israeli President Herzog hosted Bettan, Israel's runner-up representative at the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, at the President's Residence in Jerusalem. Bettan was joined at the meeting by a delegation from the Israeli broadcaster Kan, led by CEO Golan Yochpaz. The event was conducted in Hebrew.
Sasha Silber reporting for JNS captured the moment with this report:
"The people of Israel love you very much, and when you ended your performance at Eurovision with 'Am Yisrael Chai,' you moved all of our hearts," Herzog told Bettan. "You brought great joy and pride to the people of Israel, and stood courageously in the face of waves of hatred and hostility. You brought Israel's name into almost every home in the world, and I commend you for that."
Singer encourages unity
"It is a great honor for me to be at the President's Residence today, to meet the president of the State of Israel and to receive this embrace and appreciation after this moving journey," Bettan said. "Thank you to everyone who supported, voted and sent love throughout the entire journey. I felt the embrace of the people of Israel at every moment, and it gave me tremendous strength to step onto the stage and give it my all."
In one of the more emotional moments of the meeting, Bettan said he was grateful to have served, even briefly, as a conduit for the love and unity he felt from the Israeli public. "I am happy and proud of the privilege to be a channel for this," he said, noting that the sense of unity reminded him of "difficult moments" the country had endured and made him feel, on a personal level, that "my soul was coming back home."
He added, "I hope this unity will continue tomorrow, and a year from now, and 50 years from now, and into the distant future that awaits our country, God willing." Bettan also urged Israelis to carry that unity into daily life, including ordinary moments "in traffic jams, lines at the post office and the supermarket."
"Precisely in those moments, to manage to be kinder to one another," he said, adding that even when people fall short, they should try to judge one another favorably and "be better to one another and to our neighbors."
Asked about his next chapter, Bettan said he felt "100%" in his calling and planned to release new music and perform live. "What brought me to this point was being who I am, being authentic and genuine," he said. "That's how the music will be too."
ADVERTISEMENT
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© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios
© 2026 The Jewish World · Since 1965 - The Capital Region's gateway to Jewish life
Designed and Developed by Ta-Da Studios