Netta Barzilai to represent Israel in Lisbon!

To select their representative, the Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) collaborated with the commercial broadcaster Keshet and Tedy Productions and organized the reality singing competition called HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion ('The Next Star For Eurovision'). The song will be chosen by a committee of the Israeli broadcaster.  

About the show  

The shows hosted by Assi Azar and Rotem Sela consisted out of twenty shows and a jury composed out of popular Israeli musical duo Static & Ben-El Tavori, singer, songwriter and music producer Asaf Amdursky, singer-songwriter Keren Peles and Harel Skaat, 2010 Israeli Eurovision entrant.  

The competing entries for the final were:

• Netta Barzilai
• Chen Aharoni
• Riki Ben Ari
• Jonathan Mergui

The next stage in the exciting process is the selection of the song for the competition, in the coming weeks. An internal joint committee of music experts has been appointed, while Israeli songwriters and composers are invited to submit their entries. The best song will be paired with Netta, who will travel to Lisbon in late April.   

About Netta

Born and raised in Israel, the 25-year-old won the competition with a powerful voice and a magnetic personality, while mastering the looper, a unique sound recorder, during her performances. Netta brings a fresh and contemporary combination of sounds and influences to the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be aired in Israel for the first time on Kan11, in addition to Kan's digital and radio platforms.  

Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest

Israel first participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1973 and participated 40 times since making their debut. They won the competition three times. 1978, A-Ba-Ni-Bi by Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta and a year later 1979 Gali Atari and Milk & Honey won with Hallelujah. Israel achieved its third victory in 1998 with Dana International' s Diva. Last year Imri Ziv represented Israel in Kyiv, with the song I Feel Alive.

This year, Israel will take perform in Lisbon on 8th May in the First Semi-Final. Their placement was determined by the Semi-Final Allocation Draw on 29th January.