"As Far as I'm Concerned, We Won": Israel's Noam Bathan Reacts to Phenom

Speaking to reporters shortly after taking second place at the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, Israeli representative Noam Bathan expressed immense pride in his performance, framing the historic runner-up finish as an absolute victory given the challenging environment.

"As far as I'm concerned, we won," Bathan told journalists following the grand final. "A second-place finish is incredible, especially given our circumstances, the boos, and everything we experienced here. It wasn't easy. I feel so proud to stand here, and I love you all. Thank you so much."

Bathan acknowledged that the delegation was fully aware of the hostility directed at them from parts of the audience during the event. "I heard it, and there was one moment with massive booing toward the end. But we stood up on the sofa like lions, raised the flag, and yelled 'Am Yisrael Chai'" Bathan shared. "We are here to give love to anyone willing to receive it. We are here with open arms, good intentions, and a lot of light to give. I am not here to fight anyone; I came to spread light. Whoever wants to accept it, that is their choice."

Reflecting on the domestic impact of the contest, Bathan expressed hope that his performance of "Michelle" brought strength and comfort back home. "I imagine there is a sense of unity in the air today. We have tomorrow, next year, and many more years ahead of us as a beautiful country. I want to ask of us, and of myself, to do our best to be good to one another. We are at our best when we are united. We are the only people who, when pushed into a corner, turn into diamonds."

Yoav Tzafir, the director behind the Israeli staging, also spoke to reporters to voice his immense pride in the singer. "Noam is a true prince. Finishing in second place two years in a row is simply mind-boggling," Tzafir said, referencing the runner-up finish by Israel's Yuval Rafael the previous year.

Tzafir added that despite the tense atmosphere in parts of the arena, Bathan was widely embraced backstage by his fellow competitors. "Noam is just an incredible singer. I saw how the other artists from the different delegations hugged and respected him. He carried himself like a gentleman among everyone. The Finnish delegation hugged him, the Australians hugged him. He also received a tremendous number of points from some very tough juries. This is an amazing achievement, and he is the king."