This was my highest surprise. To feel that there are many Europeans who are not only ok with Israel being part of the Eurovision while in a war, but also felt that they wanted to vote for them (both due to the song and as a signal value).

So your point about making a statement, by having people vote for ones country is valid!

I won't go into theories as such on who has done what and why. But i wouldn't hold the EBU to so high standards that it is unbribable