Israel joined the Eurovision family in 1973. Despite being a Middle Eastern nation, the nation is a member of the European Broadcasting Union and as such is allowed to participate in the contest. Since their debut, they've only missed five contests: three due to the observance of their national holiday, one due to relegation, and failing to qualify for the 1996 contest via the audio-only pre-qualifying round.
Their first few years in the contest saw three top 10 finishes - fourth in its debut in 1973, seventh in 1974 and sixth in 1976. Israel then scored back-to-back wins in 1978 and 1979: Izhar Cohen and Alpha Beta won in Paris with the song A-Ba-Ni-Bi, and Gali Atari and Milk and Honey defended the title on home ground in Jerusalem with Hallelujah.
In 1998 in Birmingham, history was made by Israel when Dana International became the first transgender artist to win the contest.
With the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has managed to qualify for the final 11 times.
Israel was one of the few countries which had never performed any of their entries entirely in English, although 14 of their entries partially included lyrics in said language. It was not until 2015 when Nadav Guedj sang his entry without a single word in Hebrew. He helped Israel qualify for the final for the first time since 2010. Since then, most entries from Israel are usually in English with some Hebrew lyrics.
On 9 May 2017, just before the start of the first semifinal, IBA shut down its operations with its replacement, IPBC (KAN), starting operations on 15 May 2017. On 24 May 2017, IPBC filed for membership. On 2 October 2017, the EBU granted IPBC temporary membership as their application process went on, allowing Israel to participate in the 2018 contest, which they eventually went on to win. On 7 December 2018, KAN was granted full membership by the EBU.
Gallery[]
Participants[]
Year | Artist | Song | Language | Place | Points | Semi | Points |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1973 | Ilanit | Ey Sham | Hebrew | 4 | 97 | No Semi Finals | |
1974 | Kavaret | Natati La Khayay | 7 | 11 | |||
1975 | Shlomo Artzi | At Va'ani | 11 | 40 | |||
1976 | Chocolate Menta Mastik | Emor Shalom | 6 | 77 | |||
1977 | Ilanit | Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim | 11 | 49 | |||
1978 | Izhar Cohen & Alphabeta | A-Ba-Ni-Bi | 1 | 157 | |||
1979 | Milk and Honey | Hallelujah | 1 | 125 | |||
1980 | Ha'achim ve Ha'achayot | Pizmon Chozer | Withdrew from competition | ||||
1981 | Hakol Over Habibi | Halayla | 7 | 56 | No Semi Finals | ||
1982 | Avi Toledano | Hora | 2 | 100 | |||
1983 | Ofra Haza | Hi | 2 | 136 | |||
1984 | Ilanit | Balalaika | Withdrew from competition | ||||
1985 | Izhar Cohen | Olé, Olé | 5 | 93 | No Semi Finals | ||
1986 | Moti Giladi & Sarai Tzuriel | Yavo Yom | 19 | 7 | |||
1987 | Lazy Bums | Shir Habatlanim | 8 | 73 | |||
1988 | Yardena Arazi | Ben Adam | 7 | 85 | |||
1989 | Gili and Galit | Derech Hamelech | 12 | 50 | |||
1990 | Rita | Shara Barkhovot | 18 | 16 | |||
1991 | Duo Datz | Kan | 3 | 139 | |||
1992 | Dafna Dekel | Ze Rak Sport | 6 | 85 | |||
1993 | The Shiru Group | Shiru | Hebrew, English | 24 | 4 | Participated in 1992 | |
1994 | Relegated from participating | ||||||
1995 | Liora | Amen | Hebrew | 8 | 81 | No Semi Final | |
1996 | Galit Bell | Shalom Olam | -- | -- | 28 | 12 | |
1997 | Did not participate | ||||||
1998 | Dana International | Diva | Hebrew | 1 | 172 | No Semi Finals | |
1999 | Eden | Happy Birthday | Hebrew, English | 5 | 93 | ||
2000 | PingPong | Be Happy | 22 | 7 | |||
2001 | Tal Sondak | En Davar | Hebrew | 16 | 25 | ||
2002 | Sarit Hadad | Light A Candle | Hebrew, English | 12 | 37 | ||
2003 | Lior Narkis | Words For Love | 19 | 17 | |||
2004 | David D'Or | To Believe | -- | -- | 11 | 57 | |
2005 | Shiri Maimon | HaSheket SheNish'ar | 4 | 154 | 7 | 158 | |
2006 | Eddie Butler | Together We Are One | 23 | 4 | Top 11 in 2005 | ||
2007 | Teapacks | Push the Button | English, French, Hebrew | -- | -- | 24 | 17 |
2008 | Boaz Ma'uda | The Fire In Your Eyes | Hebrew, English | 9 | 124 | 5 | 104 |
2009 | Noa & Mira Awad | There Must Be Another Way | English, Hebrew, Arabic | 16 | 53 | 7 | 75 |
2010 | Harel Skaat | Milim | Hebrew | 14 | 71 | 8 | 71 |
2011 | Dana International | Ding Dong | Hebrew, English | -- | -- | 15 | 38 |
2012 | Izabo | Time | -- | -- | 13 | 33 | |
2013 | Moran Mazor | Rak Bishvilo | Hebrew | -- | -- | 14 | 40 |
2014 | Mei Finegold | Same Heart | Hebrew, English | -- | -- | 14 | 19 |
2015 | Nadav Guedj | Golden Boy | English | 9 | 97 | 3 | 151 |
2016 | Hovi Star | Made of Stars | 14 | 135 | 7 | 147 | |
2017 | IMRI | I Feel Alive | 23 | 39 | 3 | 207 | |
2018 | Netta | Toy | 1 | 529 | 1 | 283 | |
2019 | Kobi Marimi | Home | 23 | 35 | Host of 2019 | ||
2020 | Eden Alene | Feker Libi | English, Amharic, Hebrew, Arabic | Contest cancelled | |||
2021 | Set Me Free | English, Hebrew | 17 | 93 | 5 | 192 | |
2022 | Michael Ben David | I.M | English | -- | -- | 13 | 61 |
2023 | Noa Kirel | Unicorn | English, Hebrew | 3 | 362 | 3 | 127 |
2024 | Eden Golan | Hurricane |