Netanyahu congratulates Israel’s Eurovision runner-up after contest marred in boycott row

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated Noam Bettan after Israel finished second in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday, May 16. The lead-up to this year’s event was dominated by the row over Israel’s inclusion, with five nations — Spain, Ireland, The Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — withdrawing in protest. Israel secured the runner-up spot at Eurovision 2026 despite several countries boycotting the competition over its participation citing the war in Gaza. “You stood tall against those hollow verbal potshots,” Netanyahu told Bettan. The singer said he was proud to represent Israel and hoped the result would bring “unity”. Watch more on Independent TV: https://tinyurl.com/yc7ukx9n The Independent is the world’s most free-thinking newsbrand, providing global news, commentary and analysis for the independently-minded. Subscribe: https://bit.ly/Subscribe-to-Independent Find us on social: TikTok / https://www.tiktok.com/@independent Instagram / https://www.instagram.com/the.independent/ X (Twitter) / https://twitter.com/Independent Facebook / https://www.facebook.com/TheIndependentOnline Download the iOS & Android app: https://tinyurl.com/2s3ts5dh Sign up to our newsletters: https://tinyurl.com/2bmw565x Help to support truly independent journalism. Every dollar you contribute will directly fund additional special reports and investigations from a free-thinking, award-winning newsroom you can trust: https://www.independent.co.uk/donations