Israeli Contestants’ High Public Votes at Eurovision Points to Divide Between Public and Elites, Analysts Say

For the third consecutive year, audiences in countries such as France and Germany awarded Israel the maximum number of points in the public televote.

Noam Bettan representing Israel celebrates during the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 at Wiener Stadthalle in Vienna, Austria, on May 12, 2026. Christian Bruna/Getty Images

Israel has ranked among the top countries by fans in Eurovision while receiving significantly lower scores from the contest’s professional jury, prompting some observers to speculate about a gap between elite and public sentiment in light of geopolitical events.

Last month, Israel ranked second in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest while garnering high marks from European countries. Noam Bettan, a 28-year-old from Ra’anana born to a French family, earned the maximum of 12 points from Germany and France.