Israel's Noam Bettan places second at Eurovision with trilingual song

Israeli singer Noam Bettan finished second in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest with his multilingual entry “Michelle.” The performance began in Hebrew, shifted to French—the native tongue of his parents—and concluded in English, reflecting Israel’s diverse linguistic landscape where more than 80 % of citizens speak multiple languages. Bettan, who grew up in Ra’anana, said the song expressed personal and collective themes, with some listeners interpreting it as a broader commentary on Jewish‑European relations amid rising antisemitism. The contest saw a wave of withdrawals, as Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Slovenia and Iceland quit in protest over Israel’s participation, underscoring the political tensions surrounding the event.

Bettan’s multilingual approach highlighted the prevalence of several language communities in Israel, including French, Russian, Arabic, Yiddish and Amharic, and resonated with audiences despite the geopolitical controversy.