Points given to Israel from the public on Eurovision 2026. I was very surprised by the Albanian public giving 10 points to Israel. Did your country’s voting pattern surprise you?
Posted by Substratas@reddit | AskBalkans | View on Reddit | 117 comments
Crucco@reddit
Reminder we were voting for the songs, not for the governments. Stop politicizing Eurovision.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Girl, be quiet! You wouldn’t get 12 points from us & Malta every year if that wasn’t the case…
mission_whale@reddit
Wow, why would you shut up a person? Your opinion is not better than others. The contestant should be about music and artists. It is very low to hate people for nationality. Shame.
Embarrassed-Month-35@reddit
was it a good song?
mission_whale@reddit
It was my favourite song, very strong voice of a singer without any mistake.
computo2000@reddit
Just above average.
Dramatic-Car-8507@reddit
It was the only song worth listening to a year from now
Mminas@reddit
No it wasn't.
umalut123@reddit
It was better than the Greek clown.. that’s for sure
Substratas@reddit (OP)
It wasn’t bad at all, and he had a nice, raspy voice, but the entry was nowhere near 10-point worthy.
Mondivogel@reddit
As an Albanian i am ashamed.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
How come they got so many votes from Albania? I’m very confused… 😕
Drama-Gloomy@reddit
A lot of Albanians are pro Israel
DarkSeid1912@reddit
It's not true
Drama-Gloomy@reddit
You’re free to disagree
DarkSeid1912@reddit
Government decision =/= population opinion
Drama-Gloomy@reddit
Population gave Israel 10 points
DarkSeid1912@reddit
Are you really forming an opinion that Albanians are pro Israel just from Eurovision contest votes?!
It's pretty clear a manipulation. They have done it before and they will do it again.
mission_whale@reddit
How about that the audience just liked an Israel song? I did. And I feel sorry for the artist. It shouldn't be a political contest.
Drama-Gloomy@reddit
No, it’s more of a reinforcement
Aferimus@reddit
Yes it is
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Albanians or people from Albania?
Drama-Gloomy@reddit
Albanians in Albania
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Not from my observation.
Piano_Desire@reddit
You haven't observed enough. I know lots of Albanians that are not only pro Israel, but also anti muslim. Still this is cyber related points like last year, Israeli people using VPN and local payment methods so their votes would be as Albanians.
Ujemegaz@reddit
More like anti Arab, not anti muslim. But you can observe such sentiment from Turks as well, who are 99% muslim themselves.
Inevitable_Motor_685@reddit
anti arab for what?
Ujemegaz@reddit
Is there a sane reason for being anti anything?
mission_whale@reddit
Ain't people here anti Israel?
Glittery_Marshmallow@reddit
Whether you agree or not, these people usually have some type of "logic" for their convictions.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/e5rldvopvr1h1.gif
IMustBust@reddit
Tenk you Israel, yu ar mai best frend Yu are de peacekeeper, you are de lexhend
ManVSReddit@reddit
I am not , the song was great to begin with, and Israel has been one of the first countries to recognize Kosovo, one of the first countries to assist us with rebuilding during earthquake and supports both us and Kosovo in defense.
We don’t need to fight other peoples fights. We supports whoever supports us.
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
Israel recognized Kosovo a couple of years ago ,it was not one of the first countries ,you know that you are a very tiny minority that supports Israel right?
ManVSReddit@reddit
You are a tiny minority. Reddit is a tiny minority. Statistically on almost every topic the real world does not agree with Reddit.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Would you say the same about Hitler if he supported you?
ManVSReddit@reddit
Peak stupidity comparing Hitler with Israel
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
I did not talk about reddit ,even in the US the polls show that Israeli lost its support ,everywhere in the world,if you do not accept that,you are an idiot because even the Israeli government admits it and is trying to change the perception.
ManVSReddit@reddit
Hahaha I am in idiot? You are over here fighting against people that support you and your country.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Imagine if USA said the same during Serbia & Kosovo war…
https://i.redd.it/4xt3qznnyr1h1.gif
Ujemegaz@reddit
Albania has done more for Palestine than Arab countries combined. Even after switching with the west in 1990s our stance has been in line with EU and firmly in favor of the two state solution. Our country is the only European country which has full member rights in Islamic conference also. Israel and Netanahu only approached to Rama for PR. They need a country which did not participate in holocaust, which happens to be a muslim to be supportive, or at least appear as supportive. Speeches and visits do not mean much, official stances and declarations are important, and Rama was prudent to mention that he stands by the two state solution when he delivered his speech in their parliament.
As for people, we always have a tedency with the underdog, because we have been underdogs ourselves. But i doubt we care about what happens there. We have enough troubles on our own.
ManVSReddit@reddit
US fought its own fights in Kosovo. You have to be delusional to believe anything else. It just happens that our interest aligned , not that should take away a once of gratitude.
Barbak86@reddit
Israel didn't recognize us until the first Trump presidency, wtf are you talking about? Yes out lobbies in America helped each other, but that's a different thing.
crivycouriac@reddit
Why does Eastern Europe give less public points overall despite being more anti-Palestine?
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
“The public”
FantasticQuartet@reddit
Artistic-Hyena-8572@reddit
You know it’s fake right? His name translates to “forklift driver”. And no Israeli speaks like that.
Mammoth_Meet_1606@reddit
Us white people was looking for a word like the n-word to call eachother and now with the great noticing we call eachother goyims or goys
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
They do not even hide it
PaperSweet9983@reddit
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/ded9cmstpr1h1.gif
computo2000@reddit
Muslim majority turkic Azerbaijan 12 points? Excusez mois?
deviendrais@reddit
Based Croatia but even more based Slovenia
Montenegirl@reddit
The most based is Bosnia for owning Eurovision money and not giving a shit
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
Imo, that's infantile.
LocalBoss1543@reddit
Lol, someone perplexed after realising the reality is much different than his echo chamber.
Mo4d93@reddit
Reality based on Eurovision.. Let's ignore real polls showing Israel being so negatively seen, right?
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Careful not to pee your pants from the excitement.
PreWiBa@reddit
It's because a lot of Albanians REALLY simp for the West in general. Under every comment saying that Albania is a muslim-majority country, there will be one random Albanian with "actually, it's below 50%" as if that doesn't make it a relative majority nonetheless.
That group probably isn't the majority of the country, but it's probably the biggest singular group among Eurovision voters, and a group that disproportionaly watches the ESC.
Remember, you don't need 50% to get 12 points, you only need to be the biggest voting group among the others. So, probably more people voted for Germany, Bulgaria, France... all in all, but the Israel voting group was one of the biggest. The NYT did an article on this phenomenon, the difference between 5 and 12 points might be a couple hundred people.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
No, it doesn’t. That makes it a muslim plurality, not majority. There’s nothing wrong with correcting people when they write something untrue about your country so I don’t quite understand why you’re so bothered by it…
PreWiBa@reddit
Found one
Relative majority and plurality are synonyms.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Nobody writes ”Albania is relative majority muslim” in their comments, you’re just ~~making shit up~~ using trap words to win arguments 😂 I get it though, misery needs company.
PreWiBa@reddit
Its implied or even a meaningless distinction in the first place
Most European countries are "relative majority X" by now because irreligiosity, but only Albanians will make a fuss out of it.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Maybe it’s meaningless to you, but not to many Albanian people. You should be okay with that.
But why should care if other European countries make a fuss about it or not?
PreWiBa@reddit
I am fully aware that its meaningful for a lot of Albanians, they don't want to be associated with islam and see it as a hindrance to be Western. That's why they vote for Israel on ESC, among other things. I literally wrote this.
Ujemegaz@reddit
I doubt Albanians view Israel as a "western" country. People in their youth, like my parents, in 90s listened to Abba and Eurovision. Israel was good then and they remember it so. Even that song Lane Moje became famous here. Doesn't mean anything. The jury votes are political though. Yet, i don't neglet that Israel might rig the results. Afterall, they are the main sponsor. Their song was better than most entries and no one would be so fussy if it were early 2000s and Israel ranked 2nd.
Ujemegaz@reddit
Actually, even 50% is generous figure published by Instat. They say so because their parents say so. All in all, only 5% of Albanians or less practice religion, be it muslim or christian. Come for Bajram or Easter in Albania. All shops and restaurants are open. No one cares.
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
Your math is not mathing ,if more people voted for Germany or France they will be the bigger group
PreWiBa@reddit
It's not that more people voted for Germany or France, it's more that more people probably voted for France, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden all in all...
Votes for XY number of countries vs. votes for one single country.
ThickCaterpillar9867@reddit
Not true dude ,they simply invest a lot in winning it ,they 100000% rig the televoting,I know the public perception if Israel and there is no way they will be the 2nd voted in Albania
no1rezefan@reddit
Germany licking the boots of literal nazis surprises me every time
Inevitable_Motor_685@reddit
Poland is actually low and thats kinda surprising ngl
South-Host8293@reddit
Apparently Israel is well known for coordinating large scale "PR" campaigns related to Eurovision. Add to that the fact that it only takes a few hundred voters or so per country to reach 12 points, and you get widely distorted public votes compared to real preferences.
Aristo95@reddit
I'll never understand obsession with eurovision points.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Eurovision is known for its viewers voting based on which nation they consider a closer friend. We never had such a close relationship with Israel to give them 10 points, nor was their song so exceptionally good. Hence my confusion…
Stverghame@reddit
That's not really true. Serbian and Croatian public almost mandatorily give each other 12 points, yet they both consider the other among the least friendly (if not THE least friendly) nation to their own.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
You have a point! I didn’t think about that (though I’ll still say favoritism exists otherwise Italy wouldn’t get 12 points from Albania & Malta each and every year…)
TheRedBaron-7@reddit
Didn‘t Edi Rama go there to kiss the wall a few months ago? And Israeli flags all over Tirana? The Albanians I know are very much pro-Palestinian, so I was confused by these actions of the Albanian state
Ujemegaz@reddit
Speak for yourself. I give jack shit about the conflict in Palestine.
silentmarrow@reddit
Oh, you know who the OP is, you two have met?
Ujemegaz@reddit
All due respect, it is none of your business whom i know and whom i met with.
silentmarrow@reddit
I’ll find out.. don’t worry
Ujemegaz@reddit
Don't go down that rabbit hole, son.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
The votes came from the public, not from Edi Rama…or did they?
https://i.redd.it/5mys1tdxtr1h1.gif
Brief-Preference-712@reddit
Albania and Israel have good relations. Israel helped Albania a lot in the 2019 earthquake
Aristo95@reddit
I understand, I just think people take it too seriously. It's a song contest after all
Glittering-Poet-2657@reddit
I’ll never understand obsession with Eurovision.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
It's a great expression of camp (the type of humor). Meaning: it's so bad, it's good.
Aristo95@reddit
That too
ChocolateAddictions@reddit
Israel bought the votes…
Dr_Fabio@reddit
It's just a song contest. Why is it a surprise?
Substratas@reddit (OP)
Because the song wasn’t worth 10 points.
Unable-Stay-6478@reddit
It's was better than Ukrainian one in 2022, though.
Basic_Shirt_6458@reddit
My god how obsesed are some people with israel...
LetterSpiritual8172@reddit
Desperate albania
Stalaagh@reddit
Literally everyone with one and a half brain cell knows that Eurovision is a pathetic attempt to whitewash Israel genocidal crimes. The points given are therefore rigged in god knows what ways.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
Israel doesn't give a flying fuck what Europeans think about anything (with good reason). And anyone with one and a half brain cells knows that Israeli success at anything boosts hatred by Europeans, it doesn't reduce it.
Aristo95@reddit
"Israel doesn't give a flying fuck what Europeans think about anything (with good reason)"
Then I really see no good reason behind Israel's participation in Eurovision, Israeli clubs playing UEFA and Euroleague competitions, etc.
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
They compete with (not seek the favor of) the people who have long tried to kill them off. Winning must feel gratifying.
Aristo95@reddit
Bro Eurovision is literally peak attention whore competition
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
I mean, I think it's corny as hell and have literally never watched it, but it is a competition, one that millions apparently take seriously.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/1ixsb0x1vr1h1.gif
Fucko_Dipshit@reddit
Just last month Israel quintupled its hasbara budget. They very much do care about what people abroad, including Europeans think, since they rely on the help of the collective west (even if the majority of that comes from the US).
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
The "collective west" is a meaningless concept, esp for Israel.
deviendrais@reddit
Why does Israel desperately want to continue participating at Eurovision then?
sjedinjenoStanje@reddit
To win against the people who had tried to butcher them out of existence not even a century ago?
Mohammed_Chang@reddit
Wasn’t there some sim card fraud to favor Israel last year?
Substratas@reddit (OP)
https://i.redd.it/uawgcbd9vr1h1.gif
Mminas@reddit
Israel has been botting for votes for years.
Countries with low vote participation means that Israel bots can get better scores.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
You have a point. Very few Albanians watch Eurovision.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
You have a poinh. Very few Albanians watch Eurovision.
Upper-Bodybuilder323@reddit
Gold-Sir4853@reddit
Who the fuck shows this shitty contest?
Ujemegaz@reddit
If my parents voted, they would certanly vote Israel and Cyprus, the later because they thought it was Spain. Italy, Spain, Israel, Turkey and later Greece have a reputation for good music in Eurovision because in the 90s, radio played their songs all the time.
Substratas@reddit (OP)
🤣🤣🤣
Ujemegaz@reddit
Sounded wrong. Reminded them of Spain entries in the past.
Big-Waltz5204@reddit
Albania at this point is almost like Israeli vassal state. Azerbaijan usual suspect too. Wish Europe grew some balls and kick Israelis out of Eurovision and out of European politics too.