Israel's Eurovision Entry Michelle Gets Mixed Reviews as Nation Focuses on War

Israeli singer Noam Bettan performed the song Michelle on public broadcaster Kan 11 as Israel's 2026 Eurovision entry, but the song received a lukewarm critical reception. Music critic Ben Shalev of Haaretz described the song as pleasant but uninspiring, noting that few Israelis had the bandwidth to engage with Eurovision amid the ongoing conflict with Iran. Shalev argued that while the war naturally dominates public attention, the song itself also bears responsibility for failing to generate national excitement.