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EBU: Israel can normally participate in Eurovision 2024!

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With its statement to Aftonbladet, the EBU confirms and clarifies without any doubt that Israel will normally participate in Eurovision 2024, since the country’s public television meets all the conditions.

The EBU’s statement comes after a series of similar statements from various public broadcasters. It is emphasized that the members of the EBU consider that the Israeli public television KAN meets all the conditions for participation in the upcoming contest.

The Eurovision Song Contest is a competition between public broadcasters from across Europe and the Middle East that are members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). It’s a competition for broadcasters – not governments – and the Israeli broadcaster has been participating for 50 years. Eurovision is an apolitical event that unites audiences around the world through music.

What the EBU follows in essence is what happens in all major events, sporting and non-sporting, where Israeli representatives normally participate.

The above not only confirms everything we know about Israel’s certain participation in Eurovision 2024, but also leaves no doubt about it. Any calls for a boycott are meaningless.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Aftonbladet

Israel: The results of HaKokhav Haba’s 16th episode | Nine artists still in race for Malmö!

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Yesterday, January 17th, the 16th episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition) was aired. HaKokhav Haba is the talent show under which the artist that will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be selected.

Out of the 35 artists who made it beyond the audition stage, 14 advanced to the battles’ phase, where they will compete to represent their country in Eurovision 2024!

In episode sixteen, the ten remaining artists performed in duets, while nine of them moved to the next stage and one was eliminated. Assi Azar and Rotem Sela, serve as the show’s hosts, as they have been doing since 2014. The jury is consisted of Eden Hasson, Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar, and Keren Pels.

The duets of the 16th episode

Ten contestants performed in front of an audience and a jury, with the committee ultimately deciding who would be eliminated from the two artists with the lowest scores.

Oral Ravid and Mika Moshe

One of the weakest performances of the two singers. The two artists performed “Children of Life” but did not impress all the jurors jury achieving a score of 73%.

Yonathan Biton and Dor Shimoni

They chose to perform a mashup of the songs “Dizziness” and “Badad“. The two artists are among the most notable singers in HaKokhav Haba. They received a positive feedback from the majority of the judges, but they ultimately achieved a 73% score.

Or Cohen and Eden Golan

The two singers decided to perform Alicia Keys’ song “If I Ain’t Got You“. A powerful and electrifying performance by the two divas, who have indeed an incredible vocal range! With a 96% score, they were declared the winners of the evening and received triumphant feedback from all the judges.

Moria Angel and Leanne Byrne

They selected to perform John Lennon’s legendary “Imagine“. The judges disagreed as something felt off with their performance. Only one judge voted favorably and stated that he disagreed with the other judges. Unfortunately, with a score of 29%, they were eligible for elimination.

Arik Sinai and Shay Tamino

The last duet saw Arik Sinai and Shay Tamino perform “Before it ends” by Idan Raichel.The two artists’ styles are completely different, and it shows. They received positive feedback from the majority of the judges, but they ultimately achieved a 77% rating.

Having achieved the lowest score of the evening, Moria Angel and Leanne Byrne were put in front of the jury, in order the latter to decide who would leave HaKokhav Haba. The jurors ultimately decided that Moria Angel should be eliminated.

HaKokhav HaBa 2024

Only nine candidates remain in the running to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 and they are the following:

  1. Leanne Byrne
  2. Eden Golan
  3. Arik Sinai
  4. Shay Tamino
  5. Or Cohen
  6. Jonathan Biton
  7. Mika Moshe
  8. Dor Shimoni
  9. Oral Ravid

Israel qualified for the finals every year from 2015 to 2020 through HaKokhav HaBa, and Netta won the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018 with the song “Toy”.

Israel was represented last year by Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn”, which came in third place with 362 points overall.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: euromix

European Parliament: Against the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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In a statement, Sabine Verheyen, German MEP and President of the Committee on Cultural Affairs of the European Parliament, stood against the boycott of Israel in Eurovision 2024, which some are trying to impose on the public broadcasters, members of the EBU.

The largest democratic institution of the EU – the European Parliament, since its members are directly elected by the citizens of the member states, through the president of its Committee on Cultural Affairs Sabine Verheyen, stated earlier to euobserver that it is against any boycott attempted against Israel and its participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.

In fact, the MEP made it clear that Israeli citizens have the right to live without the fear of the terrorist organization Hamas, somehow justifying the military operation currently being carried out in Gaza to dismantle the organization.

Israeli citizens have the right to live free from terror, fear and violence.

This is the first time that one of the EU’s top institutions has spoken openly about the thorny issue of Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024, taking a clear stand in favor of its unfettered participation and against calls for a boycott.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: euobserver

Assi Azar: “Israel will win Eurovision 2024, as Ukraine won”!

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Assi Azar, one of the most popular presenters on Israeli television, spoke to one of the largest Spanish newspapers, La Vanguardia. Assi expressed his confidence that Israel will win the Eurovision contest to be held in May in Malmö, just as Ukraine, which was also plagued by war, won two years ago.

Assi Azar is the host of HaKokhav Haba, the selection show through which the artist representing Israel at the Eurovision contest is chosen. He was one of the presenters of Eurovision 2019, held in Tel Aviv, while he is also an activist for the rights of the LGBT community.

At the beginning of his interview, Assi expresses his certainty that Israel will participate in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest despite the backlash and expresses his certainty that it will win, wanting the world to show its solidarity after the terrible terrorist attack. blow suffered by Hamas last October.

Israel will get as many votes as Ukraine got because of the war. International solidarity. As good as Israel’s song is, it will win the Eurovision Song Contest.

In the interview he was also asked about HaKokhav Haba and if he has a favorite candidate.

The singers participating in the show are unknown. Some I really like, but I can’t say about my favorites. I have to be neutral.

When asked if Assi has any Palestinian friends, the Israeli presenter mentions Lucy Ayoub, with whom they presented Eurovision 2019 together.

Many Israelis are Palestinians and hold senior positions.

Asked whether Israelis and Palestinians can live in peace, Assi described how it can happen.

It is impossible to talk about this while Israeli citizens are being kidnapped and held by Hamas. First of all, they have to come back. After that, Netanyahu must give an account: how was an attack by Hamas that killed so many families possible.

The Spanish journalist points out to Assi the thousands of deaths in Gaza and asks for his comment on it.

If a group of terrorists invaded Barcelona and killed entire families while they were at home, wouldn’t you go out and defend your home? Out of eight billion people on earth, only fifteen million are Jews and only nine million live in Israel: this is our home! Many say that Jews control Hollywood, that they are rich, that they decide the presidents of the United States, that they enjoy killing Palestinians. This is pure anti-Semitism! It’s scary!

He will not hesitate to fight if Israel is attacked by Lebanon and Syria, comments Assi, since everyone in the country is a soldier.

If Israel is attacked by Lebanon or Syria, we will all fight. Me too.

When he is finally asked about his dream, he answers:

What everyone you ask, whether they are Palestinian or Jewish, in Gaza or in Israel, wants: to live in peace and be happy!

Do you think Israel can really win Eurovision 2024, like Ukraine won in 2022? Tell us in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun!

Source: Euromix

Israel: The results of the 14th episode of HaKokhav Haba | Eleven artists left for Malmö!

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Broadcast yesterday 10/1, the 14th episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition), the talent show through which the artist who will raise the flag of Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be chosen!

As we have already informed you, 35 artists passed the scope of the auditions, with 14 of them going to the second phase – the battles phase, and they will claim the representation of the country in Eurovision 2024!

Episode 14 saw three more battles with five artists advancing to the next stage and one exiting the show. We remind you that the presenters of HaKokhav Haba are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela who have been in this position since 2014, while the members of the jury are Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar and Keren Pels with a new addition being Eden Hasson.

Six contestants therefore appeared in front of an audience and a jury, with the committee choosing at the end the one who will leave, among the three artists who collected the lowest score.

Or Cohen Vs Mika Moshe

Two very good performances for both artists. A judge’s downvote on Mika Moshe’s performance decided the outcome. With 93% against 86% Or Cohen advanced directly to the next phase.

Mika Curtis Vs Oral David

Here things were clearer. Oral David was the undisputed winner, since with 96% against Mika Curtis’ 59% he easily advanced to the next phase.

Leanne Byrne Vs Eden Golan

A duel that could be final. Two artists with great voices. They both collected very high percentages and of course the positive opinion of all the judges. In the end, for just one unit, Eden Golan was the winner, having scored 96% against Leanne Byrne’s 95%.

Finally the judges among the three artists who lost in their duels, chose Mika Curtis to leave the show. Now only eleven candidates remain in the running to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024.

The 11 artists who are still in the running to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 are:

  1. Leanne Byrne
  2. Eden Golan
  3. Arik Sinai
  4. Shay Tamino
  5. Ido Bartel
  6. Or Cohen
  7. Yonathan Biton
  8. Mika Moshe
  9. Dor Shimoni
  10. Moria Angel
  11. Oral Ravid

Through HaKokhav HaBa, Israel managed to qualify every year to the final of our favorite competition from 2015 to 2020, while in 2018 Netta was also the winner of Eurovision with the song “Toy”.

This year Israel at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was represented by the explosive Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn” who gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final by collecting 362 points.

Stay tuned at Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: euromix

Israel: The results of the eleventh episode of HaKokhav Haba – 13 artists in the race for Malmo!

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Broadcast on Wednesday night 3/1, the eleventh episode of HaKokhav Haba (special edition), the talent show through which the artist who will raise the flag of Israel at Eurovision 2024 will emerge!

As we have already informed you, 35 artists passed the scope of the auditions, with 14 of them going to the second phase – the battles phase, and they will claim the representation of the country in Eurovision 2024!

In the eleventh we watched seven battles with six of them advancing to the next phase. We remind you that the presenters of HaKokhav Haba are Assi Azar and Rotem Sela who have been in this position since 2014, while the members of the jury are Shiri Maimon, Itay Levy, Assaf Amdorsky, Ran Dankar and Keren Pels with a new addition being Eden Hasson.

It is worth noting that in tonight’s episode of HaKokhav Haba there was a live audience for the first time for this year, people whose homes were evacuated in both the north and the south of the country, after the terrorist attacks by Hamas on the territory of Israel.

Seven contestants then appeared in front of an audience and jury, with the one with the lowest score leaving HaKokhav Haba.

Mika Moshe

Mika impressed the judges vocally as well as kinetically and received rave reviews from Shiri Maimon, the country’s representative at Eurovision 2005. Although she received the highest percentage of the night, 96%, many of the judges are unsure whether she ready for Eurovision.

 

Or Cohen

A good performance for Or Cohen, who impressed with her voice. He collected 94% and passed to the next phase.

 

Yonatan Biton

Yonatan divided the jury. However, he was good vocally and the direction elevated his performance. He scored 65% and finally qualified for the next phase.

 

Moriah Angel

Moriah may be one of the favorite nominated artists of the jury, today she did not impress them. Although it was vocally correct, it wasn’t a good look. However, with 50% she managed to pass to the next phase at the very fifth.

Dor Shimon

Dor’s appearance was perfect. However, the committee is not sure if he is ready for Eurovision. Despite mixed reviews, Dor with a 60%, advances to the next phase.

 

Eden Golan

Eden is the favorite of HaKokhav Haba, since with absolute 100% she passed to the second phase of the battles.

This time she showed that apart from singing amazingly, can also dance. The judges expressed, among other things, their joy that there is such a person in Israel. However, the song choice was divisive and only got 85% of the total score, but advances to the next stage.

Gal

Gal chose the wrong song, drawing attention more to the guitar playing than the performance part. Only Shiri Maimon voted for Gal, who with 41% leaves HaKokhav Haba and abandons the dream of representing Israel in Malmö.

The detailed results of yesterday’s episode:

Mika Moshe 96%
Or Cohen 94%
Eden Golan 85%
Yonatan Biton 65%
Dor Shimon 51%
Angel Moriah 50%
Gal Kafri 41%

The 13 artists who are still in the running to represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 are:

Leanne Byrne
Eden Golan
Arik Sinai
Yehuda Sadoo
Shay Tamino
Ido Bartel
Or Cohen
Jonathan Biton
Mika Moshe
Dor Shimoni
Mika Curtis
Moria Angel
Oral Ravid

Through HaKokhav HaBa, Israel managed to qualify every year to the final of our favorite competition from 2015 to 2020, while in 2018 Netta was also the winner of Eurovision with the song “Toy”.

This year Israel at Eurovision 2023 in Liverpool was represented by the explosive Noa Kirel and the song “Unicorn” who gave the Middle Eastern country the third place in the Grand Final by collecting 362 points.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

Contestant to represent Israel in Eurovision 2024 killed in battles in Gaza!

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In today’s announcement, Israel’s Ministry of Defense reports the death of three members of its armed forces, in the battles taking place in the Gaza Strip. Among the three dead is Captain Shaoli Greenglick, who was seen competing about a month ago in HaKokhav Haba, the talent show through which the artist who will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 is chosen.

The 25-year-old singer appeared at the audition in military uniform, wanting to dedicate the song he performed to his friends who are fighting the Hamas terrorists in the Gaza Strip, after the organization’s strike in Israel in October, which claimed the lives of 1,400 people, but also which resulted in the kidnapping of hundreds more innocent citizens.

With 83%, Shaoli Greenglick had managed to qualify for the next round of the talent show and soon we would see him again on our screens, since this week the stage of auditions is completed.

Stay tuned on Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

HaKokhav Haba judges disagree on what kind of song should represent Israel in Eurovision 2024!

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On the occasion of the performance of a contestant in the fourth episode of HaKokhav Haba, the talent show through which the artist who will represent Israel at Eurovision 2024 will be selected, there was an interesting debate-disagreement between the judges about the style and genre of the song that the country should send to Malmö.

The song she chose and the performance of 17-year-old Noya Shram were the reasons that divided the judges. Noya performed We’re Good by Dua Lipa. Keren Peles told her that although she has a wonderful voice, she thinks that the special moments that Israel is going through at the moment, are not compatible with a song like the one that Noya chose.

Let’s focus on the reality. Noya, I apologize for bumping into this time period but let’s not ignore it. Eurovision is not a normal party this year, it is not a celebration. We have to bring (to the competition) something internal, from the stomach and the heart. I felt that what you have to offer, which is amazing, does not fit the spirit of the times. In what we want to bring to Eurovision and in the voice we want.

On the other hand, an other member of the jury, Assaf Amdorsky, defended Noya and her choice, taking a different approach to the song with which he would like to see the next Israeli representative in the contest.

I was very disappointed to find that some of the judges are already aiming to send a song “in the spirit of the times” for Israel, and from the beginning they intend to send a ballad, which will be a peace hymn, in the style of songs that Israel sent for peace 25 years ago. The theme of the song that Israel will send to Eurovision this year needs to be well thought out – and I’m not really sure that the song “in the spirit of the times” is the right choice. A quality pop song is also a good choice for me! It’s also important to remember that the Eurovision Song Contest will take place in half a year, so we don’t know what the spirit of the times will be in Israel in half a year – hopefully the war will be over by then.

Check out Noya Shram’s  that was a bone of contention for the judges at the talent show:

For the record, Noya qualified to the next round, with 70% positive votes of the judges and the audience.

This disagreement of the judges about the style of the song that Israel’s entry in Eurovision 2024 should have, is something that is of great concern among the eurofans. The news about the ongoing war in Gaza and Israel’s decision to participate in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest are points of friction for many friends of the contest, with the EBU however not involving the political developments and normally confirming Israel’s presence in Malmö.

In what style of song do you think Israel will participate in Eurovision 2024? Tell us in the comments below!

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Source: Euromix

Israel: Everything that happened in the first episode of HaKokhav HaBa!

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HaKokhav HaBa, the show through which Israel will choose its representative for Eurovision 2024, premiered on Monday night, November 20.

With a special edition, due to the critical situation the country is experiencing, HaKokhav HaBa is being held this year. On Monday night we had the broadcast of the first episode, which even scored quite high viewing figures, reaching 19.1% for Keshet 1, which translates to 519,000 viewers.

The broadcast began when the hosts, Assi Ezer and Rotem Sela, presented the program as a special edition adapted to current affairs. In the first episode we saw four auditions, of which three managed to qualify for the next phase.

We remind you that the results of each episode are determined by the audience in the studio and by the jury consisting of: Assaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon (2005 Eurovision Israel), Ran Danker, Itay Levi and Eden Hason.

Who made it to the next phase?

Shay Tamino

Shay Tamino serves in the military “Education and Youth Corps”. Shai feels a great mission to appear in front of soldiers during the war. The song she chose, she wanted to dedicate to her close friend who was murdered on Saturday, October 7, by the Hamas terrorist attack.

She received the positive vote of all the judges and with 85% passed to the next phase.

Leanne Byrne

Leanne is only 16 years old and has been making music since she was 8. The judges described her as a child phenomenon and generously gave her their vote for her dynamic appearance. The audience was just as enthusiastic.

With 97% she passed to the next phase.

Eden Golan

Eden is 20 years old. She was born in Tel Aviv, but for 13 years she lived in Moscow. The young singer is not unknown to eurofans, since in 2015 she tried to represent Russia in the Junior Eurovision, while lately she has been working with the composer and producer Yinon Yahel, one of the country’s greatest musicians who has written for global stars such as Madonna , Jennifer Lopez, but has also signed Israeli entries to the competition, such as Golden Boy in 2015 and Feker Libi in 2020.

Eden received the most complimentary comments of the episode and with an absolute 100% passed to the next phase as one of the big favorites.

The next episode of HaKokhav HaBa will air on Wednesday at 10 PM.

Stay tuned for all the Israeli updates at Eurovisionfun!

Source: Euromix

Israel: Through Rising Star the representative for Eurovision 2024!

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Earlier today, the Israeli National Broadcaster KAN, decided to return to a familiar selection method for their representative in the 68th Eurovision Song Contest in Sweden. The country’s next representative will be selected through the music talent show Rising Star.

Rising Star was used from 2015 until 2020, to select the artist that represented Israel at the Song Contest. In fact, the results were quite positive, since the country always managed to qualify for the final, while Netta, who was selected from the show, won Eurovision in 2018 with “Toy“.

Based on what happened in previous years, after the talent show, the public broadcaster usually organised one more night, in which, a Jury and the audience chose the song for the winning artist to represent the country at Eurovision 2024.

More informations about the talent show will be given in later time.

Israel was represented this year by Noa Kirel with the song “Unicorn“, after an internal selection was held by Israel’s Public Television. The song ended up in third place with 362 points.

You can watch Noa’s apperance in the Grand Final here:

https://youtu.be/Z3mIcCllJXY

Stay tuned on EurovisionFun for all the latest news regarding Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2024!