Israel and Ukraine advanced to the grand final of Eurovision 2026, but the second semifinal was memorable not only for the musical performances. During the broadcast on the Israeli state channel, words of support for Ukraine were heard — right after the performance of the Ukrainian singer Leleka.
This episode quickly spread across the network because it contained something more than an ordinary comment on a song contest. Against the backdrop of war, protests around Israel’s participation, and a tense atmosphere in Europe, the Israeli broadcast reminded us that the cultural scene can also become a place of public solidarity.
What happened in the second semifinal of Eurovision
After the performance on May 14, 2026, by the representative of Ukraine, Leleka, the Israeli commentator “כאן 11” drew the attention of viewers to the fact that Ukraine is participating in Eurovision for the fifth time under conditions of full-scale war. He emphasized that Ukrainian artists continue to speak from the stage about topics directly related to the life of their country.
“We are talking about the fifth Eurovision Song Contest that Ukraine is going through during the war. We stand in solidarity with Ukrainians, predominantly singing about current issues concerning their country. Glory to Ukraine!”
The broadcast included a phrase about solidarity with Ukrainians. This commentary ended with the words: “Glory to Ukraine!”
For the Ukrainian community in Israel, repatriates from Ukraine, and those who found themselves in Israel after Russia’s invasion in 2022, such a moment holds special significance. It is not a diplomatic document or an official government statement, but such public gestures are often perceived very personally by people.
They show that Ukraine has not disappeared from the Israeli information field.
Why this phrase became noticeable
Eurovision has long ceased to be just a song contest. Especially after 2022, Ukrainian performances on the big European stage are inevitably read through the lens of war, resistance, memory of the fallen, and the right of the country to remain visible.
When an Israeli commentator speaks about Ukraine in this context, it does not sound like a random remark. It is a reminder to viewers: behind the musical number stands a country that continues to live under Russian attacks, defend itself, and speak to the world even through culture.
For Israel, this topic is also not abstract. Israeli society understands well what it means to live under constant threat, to explain its security to the world, and to face attempts to reduce a complex reality to slogans.
Reaction of Israeli Friends of Ukraine
The organization Israeli Friends of Ukraine reacted to this episode. The community noted that such moments show the importance of support between peoples — especially when it is voiced not in closed offices, but live on the largest music contest in Europe.
The organization thanked those who do not remain silent and support Ukraine and Ukrainians. Judging by the reaction on the network, this fragment was indeed important for many people who follow the relations between Ukraine and Israel not only at the political level but also at the societal level.
Here it is important to understand one nuance. Between Israel and Ukraine, there is not only a diplomatic agenda but also a human connection: families, repatriation, volunteer initiatives, Jewish history of Ukraine, Ukrainian community in Israel, memory of wars, and survival experience.
That is why such words on the air sound stronger than an ordinary comment on a song.
Why this is important for the Israeli audience
For the Israeli viewer, Eurovision in 2026 takes place in a challenging atmosphere. Israel’s participation is again accompanied by political pressure, protests, and attempts to push the country out of the cultural space due to the war in Gaza.
Against this backdrop, public support for Ukraine from the Israeli broadcast looks especially significant. Israel itself faces boycotts, accusations, pressure on artists, and attempts to turn the stage into a field of political isolation.
Therefore, the gesture towards Ukraine works both ways. It speaks not only of sympathy for Ukrainians but also of understanding how dangerous it is when culture becomes a weapon against an entire nation.
NAnews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency considers such episodes precisely in the Israeli-Ukrainian context: here, not only the results of the contest are important, but also what signals the viewers, diasporas, allies, and opponents receive at a time when every public phrase quickly becomes part of a large information war.
Israel, Ukraine, and the political background of the contest
In the first semifinal of Eurovision 2026, the representative of Israel, Noam Bettan, performed. His participation was accompanied by protests: before the semifinal, some countries opposed Israel’s presence at the contest due to the war in Gaza.
During the Israeli performer’s number, shouts from protesters were heard from the hall. According to eyewitness reports, pro-Palestinian activists tried to disrupt the performance, and the situation ended with police intervention.
This created a tense background for the entire contest. The Israeli artist found himself on stage not only as a participant in a music show but also as a representative of a country around which a campaign of pressure is again being built.
Ukraine this year is also on stage not only as a musical participant. Leleka performs from a country that continues to live in conditions of war, where every international platform becomes a chance to remind the world of Russian aggression.
The final as a symbolic result
Both Ukraine and Israel advanced to the grand final of Eurovision 2026. Formally, this is a musical result, but under current conditions, it inevitably acquires additional meaning.
For Ukraine, it is another confirmation that its voice remains heard in Europe. For Israel, it is a sign that despite pressure, protests, and attempts at boycotts, the country does not disappear from the European cultural space.
This is the main nerve of the story. On one stage, two countries met, which in different ways but simultaneously face war, international pressure, information attacks, and attempts to impose a foreign image on them.
Therefore, the words “Glory to Ukraine!” in the Israeli broadcast sounded not like a random emotional insert. They became a short but noticeable signal: there are people who see the Ukrainian war not as a distant news story but as a struggle of a people for the right to live, speak, and be heard.
And in 2026, when the world is tired of wars and often tries to switch to something more convenient, such signals are especially important. Because silence on the air would also be a message. The Israeli broadcast chose otherwise.