Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Updated: Wikipedia source
Israel has been represented in the Eurovision Song Contest 47 times since its debut in 1973. The current Israeli participating broadcaster in the contest is the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan). Israel has won the contest four times, and has hosted it in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999, and in Tel Aviv in 2019. Israel's first appearance in the contest in 1973 was successful, with "Ey Sham" performed by Ilanit finishing fourth. Israel then achieved victories in 1978 and 1979, with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, and "Hallelujah" by Milk and Honey. In 1980, the Israeli broadcaster declined to host the contest for a second consecutive year due to financial reasons. Because the contest date in the Hague conflicted with Yom HaZikaron, Israel did not participate. This remains the only instance of a winning country not competing the following year. The country's best results in the 1980s were second-place finishes for "Hora" by Avi Toledano in 1982 and "Hi" by Ofra Haza in 1983. Israel achieved its third victory in 1998, with "Diva" by Dana International. To date, Israel holds the record for the most participations and the most wins in the contest without finishing last, but it has placed second-to-last in the final thrice—1986, 1993, and 2006—and received nul points from the juries in 2019. Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final seven times. In 2005, "HaSheket SheNish'ar" by Shiri Maimon gave the country its tenth top-five result, finishing fourth. After failing to qualify for the final for four consecutive years (2011–14), Israel reached the final in 2015 with "Golden Boy" by Nadav Guedj ultimately finishing ninth, and the country has participated in the final every year since, except 2022. Israel won the contest for a fourth time in 2018, with "Toy" by Netta.