Naama Barak
March 28

The people of Israel have a certain fondness, not to mention national obsession, with the Eurovision Song Contest  — you know, the annual singing competition that has millions of people glued to their TVs and crossing their fingers that their country’s representatives will outshine the rest.

With so much controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in this year’s contest due to the ongoing war in Gaza, it’s the perfect time for a reminder why Eurovision is so special for Israelis. 

Check out these fun facts, and don’t forget to vote for Israel in May!

1. Israelis are slightly obsessed with Eurovision

12 fun facts about Israel and the Eurovision Song Contest
This is a rendering of the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest stage Expo Tel Aviv, as designed by Florian Wieder. Image courtesy of Eurovision

As you may have gathered, Israel is a Eurovision-obsessed nation. Every year, the country excitedly sends off its best singer to compete against other national talents in a bid to win the coveted title and host the following year’s competition.

Why do we care so much? It may have to do with our inclusion in a seemingly exclusive club that has the word “Europe” attached to it. Other countries really want to play with us!

Illustration by Mark Rademaker via Shutterstock.com
Illustration by Mark Rademaker via Shutterstock.com

Eurovision also gives a much-needed respite from the usual dismal news cycle, and brings together people from all walks of life. Although this year, Israelis may not be able to escape politics even during this slightly campy event. 

2. Israel is actually pretty good at it

Israel has won the Eurovision contest four times, a huge collective source of nachas (pride) for the country.

Our first win was back in 1978, when Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta belted out the impossibly named “A-ba-ni-bi.”

Just one year later, in 1979, Israel topped the contest again with Milk & Honey’s world-famous “Hallelujah.”

More modern wins were Dana International’s unforgettable 1998 hit song “Diva,” and of course Netta Barzilai’s 2018 “Toy.”

Pretty impressive, if we may say so ourselves.

3. Israeli winner cites Nigerian influence

Although she was born in central Israel’s Hod HaSharon, Barzilai spent a large chunk of her childhood in Nigeria, where her father worked as a contract engineer. 

Barzilai says her time in Nigeria inspired her style of music. She even has a song recounting her childhood experience, titled “Playground Politica.” The singer told CNN that attending an international school in Africa exposed her to the kind of music she would never have known about otherwise. 

She recalls that once back in Israel, however, other kids called her “weird, fat and foreign.” Music became her therapy. 

“Whenever I was on stage I was trying to be that six-year-old girl that I had left back in Nigeria. The first thing I’m trying to do with my music is uplift myself and others.” 

4. Israel once refused to defend its title at home

One of the best parts about winning the Eurovision is the opportunity to host the event the following year. But in 1980 not only did Israel decline to do so, it also didn’t send a representative to defend its victory abroad.

As we already know, Israel won the competition in 1978, meaning the contest took place here the following year.

When Israel won yet again on home ground, it was assumed that it would host the mega-event for another consecutive year. But the local broadcasting authority was too cash-strapped for such an endeavor, and the competition was hosted by The Netherlands.

In the end, the proposed date of the contest coincided with Israel’s Remembrance Day, leading Israel to decline participation. We like to think we could have won three years in a row.

5. Hosts with the most

When Israel does opt to host, we make the most of it. 

The most recent Eurovision hosted by Israel was in 2019 after Barzilai emerged victorious a year earlier. It was the first Eurovision the country staged in Tel Aviv, having hosted the 1979 and 1999 contests in Jerusalem.

A poster in Tel Aviv advertising Eurovision that was due to be held in the city in 2019. Photo by Adam Shuldman/Flash90
A poster in Tel Aviv advertising Eurovision 2019. Photo by Adam Shuldman/Flash90

The event was hosted by supermodel Bar Refaeli and television presenters Erez Tal, Assi Azar and Lucy Ayoub. It was rumored that the organizers were attempting to recruit actress Gal Gadot for the hosting duties, but the Wonder Woman star made only a short appearance via satellite. 

Nevertheless, a host of stars performed at the event, including Madonna. The pop queen created controversy after going off script during her performance and having both an Israeli and a Palestinian flag flash up on the screen behind her.  

6. This year’s contestant once represented Russia

Eden Golan, who will represent Israel at this year’s Eurovision in Sweden, participated in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest in 2015, representing Russia. 

Although Golan was born in Israel, her family moved to Moscow when she was six due to her father’s work obligations. The Golan family returned to Israel in 2022 after 12 years in Russia, where Eden started her singing career. 

She took part in the Russian version of The Voice Kids in 2018. In 2023, she took another shot at reality shows by taking part in Israel’s “The Next Star for Eurovision.” Golan emerged victorious after charming both the judges and the audience. 

7. Breaking tradition for pop stars

Golan wasn’t the only one who clinched her Eurovision participation via a reality show. Over the past decade, most of Israel’s representatives have been chosen through various musical TV contests.

Except in 2023. Last year, Israel’s pop mega star Noa Kirel was chosen by the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) to represent the country at the contest in Liverpool. Kirel initially was hesitant to accept the offer, but eventually agreed. 

On March 8, 2023, Kirel released the song she was set to perform at the competition that upcoming May. “Unicorn” was cowritten by Doron Medalie, who previously penned Barzilai’s “Toy,” with May Sfadia, Yinon Yahel and Kirel herself. 

Despite putting on a show-stopping performance at the Grand Final, the songstress finished third behind crowd favorite entries from Finland and Sweden. 

8. Dana International, LGBTQ superstar

The transgender singer Dana International was a pioneer in Israel when it came to recognizing and lauding the LGBTQ community. 

Male at birth, International identified as female from a young age and went on to develop a popular musical career.

Her choice as Israel’s representative to the competition raised a few eyebrows back in the day, but she became an inspiration for many people in Israel and across the world ever since. You go, girl!

9. The bulletproof vest that wasn’t

A mystery surrounding the Eurovision dates back to 1973, when Israel first participated in the contest. Only a few months earlier, 11 Israelis were massacred at the Munich Olympics, and Eurovision host country Luxembourg was stressing out about providing adequate security for Israeli singer Ilanit.

Ilanit went on stage wearing a very wide top, leading to speculation that a bulletproof vest was hidden underneath. Years later, the singer admitted there was no vest, putting the rumors to rest. 

Vest or not, she looked absolutely fabulous.

10. Daffodil diplomacy

Jordan signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1994. But back when Jordan was still a sworn enemy of Israel, it played a little dirty by televising Eurovision each year and regularly stopping the broadcast ahead of the Israeli entry. (Jordan itself did not participate in the contest.)

In 1978, when it became clear that Israel was going to win the contest with “A-ba-ni-bi,” the Jordanian broadcaster opted to screen photos of daffodils during the time the Israelis were singing, claiming there was a technical error.

It then refused to acknowledge that Israel won the competition, with local media crowning runner-up Belgium as the winner instead. Ahhh, the days before the Internet.

11. Same singer, different date 

In early 2020, Eden Alene was all set to represent Israel in Eurovision that May. Medalie once again penned the song entry, titled “Feker Libi,” which incorporates English, Amharic, Hebrew and Arabic.

Alene, who also won “The Next Star for Eurovision,” emerged victorious in the Israeli version of “The X Factor” a year earlier and was waiting for a chance to shine on the global stage. 

But then, Covid struck. The Eurovision, along with all mass events that year, were scrapped due to the coronavirus pandemic. In 2021, when Eurovision returned, most countries selected a different representative. 

The IBA, however, decided that Alene should represent Israel in the 2021 Eurovision  with her song “Set Me Free.” She finished in 17th place.

12. Musically, Israel is in Europe 

Some critics, especially those who simply don’t like Israel, claim the Jewish state is technically not in Europe and shouldn’t be allowed to participate. 

Eurovision, however, is a competition of broadcasters. Broadcasters that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) — including those from Asia and Africa — are allowed to submit an entry for the EBU-owned Eurovision Song Contest.

Israel’s IBA has been a member of the EBU since 1972 and is legally allowed to participate in the event.

In fact, since 2015 even Australia has been participating in Eurovision, facilitated through the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS).

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