Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest

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**Israel**

Member station	Israel Broadcasting Authority
National selection event(s)	Kdam
Appearances	28
First appearance	1973
Best result	1st, 1978,1979,1998
Worst result	2nd last, 1986, 1993, 2006

Although not in Europe, Israel as a member of the EBU has a right to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest and did so for the first time in 1973. To date there have been three Israeli victories in the contest. Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta won in Paris in 1978 with the uptempo A-Ba-Ni-Bi. On home ground in Jerusalem the following year, Israel won again, this time with the anthemic Hallelujah performed by Gali Atari & Milk and Honey. Unusually Israel did not defend the title in 1980. The third and possibly most controversial victory came in Birmingham in 1998. Transsexual Dana International took top honours with the song Diva, angering many Orthodox Jews at home.

Apart from the victories, Israeli entries have had a mixed reception at the contest. Avi Toledano (1982) and Ofra Haza (1983) scored well with big revivalist numbers but by 1986 this all singing, all dancing style was starting to wear thin. Attempts to do something different such as with Rita's sensuous ballad in 1990 or Ping-Pong's disco effort (2000) failed badly. Ping-Pong, however, were noted for their largely optimistic lyrics and message of reconciliation and peace in Western Asia. They went as far as waving Syrian flags at the end of their performance, angering many Israelis.

Shiri Maymon's excellent performance in Kiev (2005) brought Israel back to the top five and ensured a place in the Athens 2006 final. In Eurovision 2006 Israel was represented by singer Eddie Butler with the song "Together We Are One", only to finish 23rd with 4pts. IBA's Eurovision committee has chosen the band Teapacks to represent Israel in the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest Semi-Final in Helsinki.

1 Entries

[edit] Entries

Year	Artist	Title	Final	Score	Semi	Score
2007	Teapacks	Push The Button
2006	Eddie Butler	Together We Are One	23rd	4
2005	Shiri Maimon	Hasheket Shenish'ar	4th	154	7th	158
2004	David D'Or	Leha'Amin	X	X	11th	57
2003	Lior Narkis	Milim La'Ahava (Words For Love)	19th	17
2002	Sarit Hadad	Nadlik Beyakhad Ner (Light A Candle)	12th	37
2001	Tal Sondak	En Davar	16th	25
2000	PingPong	Sameyakh	22nd	7
1999	Eden	Yom Huledet (Happy Birthday)	5th	93
1998	Dana International	Diva	1st	172
1995	Liora	Amen	8th	81
1993	Sarah'le Sharon & The Shiru Group	Shiru	24th	4
1992	Dafna Dekel	Ze Rak Sport	6th	85
1991	Duo Datz	Kan	3rd	139
1990	Rita	Shara Barkhovot	18th	16
1989	Gili & Galit	Derekh Hamelekh	12th	50
1988	Yardena Arazi	Ben Adam	7th	85
1987	Datner & Kushnir	Shir Habatlanim	8th	73
1986	Moti Giladi & Sarai Tzuriel	Yavo Yom	19th	7
1985	Izhar Cohen	Olé, Olé	5th	93
1983	Ofra Haza	Khay	2nd	136
1982	Avi Toledano	Hora	2nd	100
1981	Hakol Over Habibi	Halayla	7th	56
1979	Gali Atari & Milk and Honey	Hallelujah	1st	125
1978	Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta	A-Ba-Ni-Bi	1st	157
1977	Ilanit	Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim	11th	49
1976	Shokolad Menta Mastik	Emor Shalom	6th	77
1975	Shlomo Artzi	At Va'Ani	11th	40
1974	Kaveret	Natati La Khayay	7th	11
1973	Ilanit	Ey Sham	4th	97

[edit] Hostings

Year	City	Venue	Presenter
Eurovision Song Contest 1979	Jerusalem	Binyaney Hauma (Israeli Conference Centre)	Yardena Arazi, Daniel Pe'er
Eurovision Song Contest 1999	Jerusalem	Binyaney Hauma (Israeli Conference Centre)	Dafna Dekel, Sigal Shachamon, Yigal Ravid