Back in May, KAN confirmed that Israel would be participating in the 2020 contest. Along with the news was the announcement of changes to their selection method. Then, in July, more details emerged regarding how they will go about selecting their next entry. Now, we have confirmation of the date their artist selection will start.
As previously confirmed, Israel’s artist will once again be selected via the talent show HaKokhav HaBa L’Eurovizion (Rising Star). The Keshet show has been used to select the Israeli artist for Eurovision since 2015. However, next year, KAN will also be producing a show that enables members of public to select the song itself, which had previously been selected internally.
Although details of the song selection are yet to be announced, we now know when Rising Star will begin. In just a few weeks (November 23rd), Israel will launch their search for their representative for Rotterdam 2020!
Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 41 times since making its debut in 1973. The country has won the contest four times (1978, 1979, 1998, 2018), and has hosted the contest three times (1979, 1999 and 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 with “HaSheket SheNish’ar”, finishing fourth. Having failed to qualify for the final for four consecutive years (2011–14), Israel reached the final with Nadav Guedj’s “Golden Boy” in 2015. Since Nadav’s ninth place finish, Israel has qualified for every Grand Final.
Last year, Netta brought Israel it’s forth victory, 20 years after its previous win. Her song won the televote and placed 3rd in the jury vote, amassing 529 points. The 2019 edition of the contest was hosted in Tel Aviv. Performing on home soil, Kobi Marimi’s “Home” didn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessor, placing 21st with 35 points.
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