Israel’s Noam Bettan will perform third in Saturday night’s Eurovision final, after organizers released the running order following the completion of the semifinals.
Bettan will perform his song Michelle after Denmark and Germany. He will be followed by Belgium, Albania, Greece, Ukraine, Australia, Serbia, Malta, Czechia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Britain, France, Moldova, Finland, Poland, Lithuania, Sweden, Cyprus, Italy, Norway, Romania and host Austria.
Israel’s position in the running order was determined by the production team. Eurovision experts say an early slot can hurt a contestant’s chances of winning, though Israel’s Yuval Raphael performed fourth last year and still finished second.
Fifteen countries competed in the second semifinal Thursday night for a place in the final, which will be broadcast live on public broadcaster Kan. Australia and Denmark, both considered strong contenders in betting tables, qualified alongside Bulgaria, Ukraine, Norway, Romania, Malta, Albania, Cyprus and Czechia.
The first semifinal was held Tuesday, when Bettan secured his place in the final. Greece, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, Moldova, Serbia, Croatia, Lithuania and Poland also advanced.
Noam Bettan's performance in the Eurovision semifinals
(Video: EBU, courtesy of Kan)
The final will also include the “Big Five” Eurovision funders — Italy, France, Britain and Germany — along with host Austria, all of which qualified automatically. Spain, normally part of the Big Five, boycotted this year’s contest.
Bettan delivered what supporters described as a powerful, precise and emotional performance in Vienna, while facing a loud mix of boos, applause and cheers.
“Thank you to all the people of Israel. Thank you to all the Jews around the world,” Bettan said after qualifying. “Thank you for voting for me. I love you. Wow, I had an amazing performance. I enjoyed every moment. See you in the final.”
Asked whether he heard the boos, Bettan said he had. “I heard the boos, but very quickly I also heard people cheering us, making noise and lifting me up, and that immediately lifted my spirit,” he said. “It did my heart the most good in the world. Am Yisrael Chai. See you in the final. I really felt I was singing for the State of Israel. It sounds like the biggest cliché. I felt I was a vessel.”
Hours before the second semifinal, about 200 Austrians attended a pro-Israel rally at Vienna’s Maria Theresa Square.
Among the supporters was Ashkan, an Iranian living in Vienna, who said he came out of respect for the Israeli people.
Iranian living in Vienna shows solidarity with Israel
(Video: Roy Elman)
“It's about honor, because we Iranians are in a battle against the Iranian regime, this mullah regime, and the Israeli government and people support us in this battle, and for us that's very respectful,” he told ynet Global. “We have respect [for] the Jewish community, [for] the Israeli people, and we want to support them as well.”
“We have two big, rich civilizations and history,” he said. “As Cyrus the Great helped Jewish people in Babylon 3,000 years ago, we have [a] very strong combination. I think we can be very good allies. Because of that, we support Israel and we want to have them support us as well as a friendship.”
What would you like to say to Israelis watching you as an Iranian?
“We want peace. We want to have a very good relationship together. We can have a very nice and very peaceful Middle East. The only thing I want to say is that most of the Iranian majority, they are not Muslim. They are not for [the] regime. They are for a free Iran. They are for Prince Reza Pahlavi. They are for [the] Shah, and they are for the idea that we, Iranian people and Israeli people, we can live in peace together in the Middle East and we can have a very good relationship together.”
Are you going to vote for Israel on Saturday night?
“To be honest, [I don't watch] Eurovision, but when I have the opportunity, I'm going to vote [for Israel].”
Marie-Louisa, a Vienna resident, also attended the rally.
“My heart is with the Eurovision singer from Israel who gets booed out and gets excluded, or I try to at least, and I think we have to show solidarity now with Israel, with the competitor from Israel, Noam,” she said. “And with the Jewish community worldwide, and that's why I'm here.”
Austrian Eurovision fan shows support for Israel in Vienna
(Video: Roy Elman)
What would you say to countries that chose not to participate this year because of Israel?
“I think it's pathetic. This is about inclusion. This is about art. This is about celebrating life, singing, and it's not time for politics on a stage like this. Eurovision is about something else.”
What is your message to Israelis?
“We are standing with you here in Israel in Vienna. Our hearts are with Israel, and yes, keep staying strong. We are rooting for you all.”