Israel: All the highlights from the fifth episode of HaKokhav Haba!

The fifth episode of the highly anticipated Israeli selection process for Eurovision 2025, HaKokhav Haba, aired tonight. This competition, known in English as “The Next Star”, is the format used by Israel to choose its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest.

Since its debut in 2015, HaKokhav Haba has been the main selection method for Israel, excluding the years 2022 and 2023. The show has achieved significant success, notably securing Israel’s Eurovision victory with Netta in 2018.

Though filming for this season began on October 10 at Neve Ilan Studios, on November 10 the official broadcast commenced on Israeli television.

Hosts and Judging Panel

Returning to host the show are Rotem Sela and Assi Azar. Azar has been involved with HaKokhav Haba since its inaugural edition in 2013 and previously hosted the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest. Sela joined as a host in the second season and has been a presenter ever since.

The judging panel for this season includes a diverse group of music industry veterans:

• Assaf Amdursky
• Keren Peles
• Shiri Maimon
• Eden Hason
• Ran Danker
• Itay Levi

With their combined experience, the panel ensures a high level of competition, which promises to be even more intense than last season’s edition.

Contestants and Their Performances

In tonight’s episode, six contestants took the stage, and five of them advanced to the next stage of the competition. Here’s a look at some of the standout performances:

• Elikir Keren (27): While serving in the military, Elikir Keren rediscovered his passion for music and decided to pursue his dream. Performing “Hagoral Haze,” his stage presence and charisma left a lasting impression on the judges. His powerful performance earned unanimous votes, resulting in an impressive score of 95%.
• Harel Cohen (24): Working as a bartender, Harel Cohen took to the stage with an energetic rendition of “Lose Control“ by Teddy Swims. His performance brought life to the audience and received praise from most of the judges. However, Assaf Amdursky chose not to vote for him, and Harel finished with a score of 88%.
• Uri Saban (21): Uri Saban has overcome personal challenges, including a diagnosis of stuttering, to find his true passion in singing, which allows him to express himself freely. Uri performed “Shirai Dika’on,” and his heartfelt rendition moved the judges. Despite Assaf Amdursky not voting for him, Uri received overwhelming support from the rest of the panel, finishing with a score of 86%.
• Ofir Harosh (23): A multi-talented singer, model, and content creator, Ofir Harosh returned to “The Next Star” after previously competing in 2018, where she was eliminated early. This time, she performed “On My Own” by Nika Costa, showcasing her natural charisma and stage presence. Despite her strong performance, Shiri Maimon and Ran Danker chose not to vote for her, resulting in a score of 86%.
• Valerie Hamati (25): One of the standout performers of the night, Valerie Hamati is no stranger to the spotlight. A runner-up on “The Next Star” in 2021 and a former participant on “Dancing with the Stars,” Valerie returned to the competition with her eyes set on representing Israel in Basel. Known for her Arab-Israeli heritage, she chose to perform “Sea Wind” by Ofer Levi, singing the chorus in Arabic. Adding an element of intrigue, Valerie performed wearing a mask to keep her identity concealed. Once she finished, the judges were stunned, and her true identity was revealed. Her powerful performance earned her a score of 93%, making her one of the favorites to win the coveted spot in Basel, displaying herself as a symbol of unity.

The next episode of HaKokhav Haba will be broadcast tomorrow evening.

The winner of HaKokhav Haba and therefore Israel’s representative in Eurovision 2024 was Eden Golan. Eden Golan performed her song “Hurricane“, finishing fifth overall.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the latest updates on the Israeli selection process!