Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest

Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest
Participating broadcaster	Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan; 2018–) Former members Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA; 1973–2017)
Participation summary
Appearances	46 (39 finals)
First appearance	1973
Highest placement	1st: 1978, 1979, 1998, 2018
Host	1979, 1999, 2019
Participation history 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Related articles
Israel Song Festival Kdam Eurovision HaKokhav HaBa The X Factor Israel
External links
Israel's page at Eurovision.tv
For the most recent participation see Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2024

Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 46 times since making its debut in 1973. Israel was able to enter the contest as the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) was an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which was responsible for the event. In 2017, the IBA was succeeded as national broadcaster by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan), which took charge of the country's entry the following year. Israel has won the contest four times, and has hosted the contest in Jerusalem in 1979 and 1999, and in Tel Aviv in 2019.

Israel's first appearance in the contest in 1973 was successful, with Ilanit finishing fourth. Israel then achieved victories in 1978 and 1979, with wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi", and Milk and Honey with "Hallelujah". In 1980, the IBA declined to host the contest for a second successive year for financial reasons, and as the date for the contest in the Hague conflicted with Yom HaZikaron – Israeli Memorial Day – Israel did not participate. This is 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 Avi Toledano in 1982 and Ofra Haza in 1983. Former winner Izhar Cohen returned to place fifth in 1985, before Duo Datz finished third in 1991. Israel achieved its third victory in 1998, with Dana International and "Diva". Eden then finished fifth in 1999. To date, Israel has the record for most participations and most wins in the contest without ever coming last, but it has placed second to last in the final three times, in 1986, 1993 and 2006, and got nul points from the juries in 2019.

Since the introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final six times. In 2005, Shiri Maimon gave the country its tenth top five result, finishing fourth. Having failed to qualify for the final for four consecutive years (2011–14), Israel reached the final in 2015, with Nadav Guedj ultimately finishing ninth, and the country has participated in the final every year since, with the exception of 2022. Israel won the contest for a fourth time in 2018, with the song "Toy" by Netta.