Israeli minister praises Eurovision result amid boycott protests

Israeli minister praises Eurovision result amid boycott protests Israeli defence minister Israel Katz congratulated Israeli performer Noam Bettan after the singer finished second in the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, while criticising European governments that opposed Israel’s participation. In a post on X written in Hebrew and Spanish, Katz said Bettan’s performance was a response to what he described as an “incitement and defamation campaign” led by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and others. Spain joined Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland in refusing to broadcast or participate in the contest in protest against the European Broadcasting Union’s decision to allow Israel to compete during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.