The Israeli state broadcaster is facing criticism online after showing Armenia and Azerbaijan under the same flag during Tuesday night’s Eurovision Song Contest semi-final.
During the live broadcast on Kan 11, a graphic displaying the participating countries mistakenly used the Azerbaijani national flag to represent both Azerbaijan and neighbouring Armenia.
The incident quickly triggered a wave of controversy across social media platforms, with viewers accusing the broadcaster of insensitivity given the complex political history between the two South Caucasus nations.
Because of these highly strained relations, as well as Israel’s close cooperation with Azerbaijan, many online users interpreted the graphic as a deliberate political statement aimed at undermining Armenia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
However, it is also possible that the incident was simply the result of a mistake rather than a deliberate political statement.
Given the tight deadlines and fast-paced nature of live television production, the graphic may have been created in error during the design process. Fans are now waiting to see whether the broadcaster or production team will respond to the controversy.
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Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2026/05/16/eurovision-2026-israeli-broadcaster-sparks-social-media-backlash-over-armenia/