Israel: “The next song for Eurovision Song Contest” to select ESC entry on March 3
The Israeli broadcaster, KAN, will hold “The next song for Eurovision Song Contest” on March 3, in order to select the country’s Eurovision 2020 entry .
According to Ynet’s reports that on March 3 Israel will determine its Eurovision 2020 entry. KAN will hold “The next song for Eurovision Song Contest” that will include 4 candidate songs which will be performed by the Israeli hopeful.
The Eurovision 202o entry will be determined by jury and public voting. The public will have a 30% share on the result, a 5% will come by a jury on the show while the rest 65% will be determined by a professional committee.
An open call for songs is already in process with the interested songwriters having a deadline until February 11 to submit their entries. The song selection that will take place on March 3 will be hosted by Lucy Ayoub , last year’s Eurovision green room host.
THE EUROVISION STORY SO FAR
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 40 times since making its debut in 1973. Israel’s first appearance at the contest in 1973 was successful, with Ilanit finishing fourth. Israel has achieved 4 victories, in 1978 and 1979, with first two wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, with the song “A-Ba-Ni-Bi”and Gali Atari and Milk and Honey, with “Hallelujah” . Its third victory came in 1998, with Dana International and “Diva” and its fourth this year with Netta’s song Toy.
The country’s best results apart from its victories were the second-place finishes for Avi Toledano in 1982 and Ofra Haza in 1983. Former winner Izhar Cohen returned to place fifth in 1985. Duo Datz finished third in 1991, while Eden finished fifth in 1999. Israel has hosted the contest twice, in 1979 and 1999, both times in Jerusalem.
After the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final six times. In 2014, the country failed to qualify for the fourth consecutive year, when Mei Feingold finished 14th (out of 15) in the second semi final, despite being one of the favorites to qualify. In 2015, Israel reached the final for the first time in five years, with Nadav Guedj finishing ninth. The only Israeli entrant to achieve a better result in the 21st century before their 2018 win was Shiri Maimon in 2005, who gave the country its tenth top five result in the contest, finishing fourth. In 2018 Netta Brazilai brought the trophy home winning Eurovision 2018 in Lisbon with her song Toy.
This year the host nation was represented by Kobi Marimi and his entry “Home” which finished 23rd in the Grand final.
