Story perspectives

Israel's Eurovision Star Performs Amid Boycotts, Voting Overhaul

5/13/2026

Summary

Bettan Defies Boycott

Israel's Eurovision contestant Noam Bettan will perform in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday despite boycotts by five European broadcasters.
He will sing the French-language ballad “Michelle,” co-written by survivor Yuval Raphael of the Oct. 7 Nova massacre.
After the New York Times reported an Israeli vote-boosting campaign, organizers reduced fan votes to ten and introduced a jury split.
Director Martin Green warned KAN that a video urging “vote 10 times for Israel” violated contest rules.

Summary

Oliveira Barred

On May 11 2026, American YouTuber Tyler Oliveira was denied entry at Ben Gurion Airport and deported under Amendment No. 40 of the 1952 Entry into Israel Law.
Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Minister Amichai Chikli said the decision followed Director General Avi Cohen-Scali’s recommendation.
The ministry labeled Oliveira’s videos as incitement and antisemitic, suspending his Patreon account.
Activist Nick Fuentes defended Oliveira and accused Israel of a “double standard,” sparking debate over social-media amplification and entry-refusal.

Summary

Israel Ministry Condemns

Israel's Foreign Ministry called NYT report on sexual violence a “blood libel” and warned it could be used to blacklist Israel at U.N.
The ministry said NYT was approached but declined, with story appearing the night before a Hamas sexual-violence report.
Nicholas Kristof’s video cited academic Shaiel Ben-Ephraim as source of the “rape dogs” claim, while Ambassador Yehiel Leiter said Rights Monitor leaders Ramy Abdu and Mazen Kahel are linked to Hamas.

History

Historical Context

On 10 November 1975 the UN General Assembly, supported by the Arab League and many African states, adopted Resolution 3379 declaring Zionism a form of racism with 72 votes in favour, 35 against and 32 abstentions. Israel’s protest sparked worldwide cultural boycotts, and the resolution stayed until the 1991 revocation by Resolution 46/86, showing how international forums become arenas for geopolitical conflict.

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Bettan Defies Boycott

Israel's Eurovision contestant Noam Bettan will perform in Vienna, Austria, on Tuesday despite boycotts by five European broadcasters.
He will sing the French-language ballad “Michelle,” co-written by survivor Yuval Raphael of the Oct. 7 Nova massacre.
After the New York Times reported an Israeli vote-boosting campaign, organizers reduced fan votes to ten and introduced a jury split.
Director Martin Green warned KAN that a video urging “vote 10 times for Israel” violated contest rules.

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