BBC corrects ‘error’ after omitting Israel from Eurovision finalists
Israel progressed alongside acts from Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia and Sweden
The BBC has corrected an “error” after omitting Israel from a list of Eurovision acts that qualified for Saturday’s final.
Israel’s entry, Michelle, performed in French, English and Hebrew by 28-year-old songwriter Noam Bettan, secured a place in the final during Tuesday’s first semi-final at Vienna’s Wiener Stadthalle.
Despite some booing during the performance, Bettan progressed alongside acts from Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia and Sweden.
After being alerted by Jewish News to what the broadcaster described as an “error”, following Israel being the only qualifying country omitted from a list on its website, the BBC updated its online report.
Spain, the Netherlands, Ireland, Iceland and Slovenia boycotted this year’s contest in protest at Israel’s inclusion.