A week before the first semifinal of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, in which Noam Bettan will take the stage in Vienna to represent Israel with the song “Michelle,” Israeli delegation director Yoav Tzafir spoke with ynet’s studio about Bettan’s first rehearsal, the reactions the delegation received and preparations for the performance.
“The first rehearsal on stage is exciting every year, because you work on a number and you don’t know how it will turn out,” Tzafir said. “Especially Noam, who may not be new to the music and stage business but is new to Eurovision — you never know how it will come out, but he handled it like a king. He’s also an excellent singer and a strong performer, he has it. If this is how he is at the first rehearsal, it will only get better, I’m sure. It will keep improving.”
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Noam Bettan during a rehearsal on the Eurovision stage
(Photo: Corinne Cumming, European Broadcasting Union)
According to Tzafir, during the second rehearsal, scheduled for Wednesday, the delegation expects to further refine the performance. “We prepared various fixes and adjustments to make the number even better, and tomorrow we’ll check if it works with the contest team. Noam will be more precise, the dancers will be more precise, and that’s how we reach the finished number — that usually happens by the end of the second rehearsal.”
What reactions did you receive after the first rehearsal?
“First of all, the contest team was מאוד impressed with Noam’s vocal abilities. There was applause from the entire team. We were told we brought the largest prop among all the delegations — we didn’t know that. It’s a kind of diamond, you’ll discover what happens with it, but the real diamond is Noam, that’s the truth.”
Tzafir was also asked about the atmosphere surrounding Israel in the competition, against the backdrop of boycott attempts, boos heard in recent years over Israel’s participation and the decision to allow Palestinian flags into the arena.
“We focus on the atmosphere within ourselves, because those are outside noises we don’t want to address, even if they exist,” he said. “We focus on the tremendous support we receive from the country and from the responses, and also from Israelis who are expected to come here. I understand there’s now a better chance the skies won’t close, thank God, so they’ll come with Israeli flags and cheer us on. When Noam stands on stage and sees the flags, nothing else will matter to him — he’ll only see Israeli flags. That’s what matters. And within the delegation, we lift him up and truly make him feel good so he can focus on the positive.”
The first semifinal, in which Bettan will compete, will be held May 12 and broadcast on Kan 11. The grand final is scheduled for May 16. Tzafir also addressed a change in the voting system.
“What they did is that instead of being able to vote 20 times from each phone, now it’s 10 times per phone. I’m sure people will still vote a lot. And by the way, I also believe Europeans vote for our songs regardless, because our songs are good, our representatives are good. It’s not for nothing that we place first in the public vote — at least last year — so we believe in the good.”