Surgery to remove a tumor, a lifetime achievement award, and his bond with Israeli society: Eurovision winner Izhar Cohen opens up about his health struggles and his contribution to Israeli culture.
The Israeli Eurovision icon Izhar Cohen received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Israeli Artists’ Association (EMI) during its annual ceremony. It was a festive recognition of his illustrious career, given at an event where additional artists who made significant contributions to Israeli culture were also honored.
The award highlighted that Izhar Cohen is not merely a familiar face in Israeli entertainment but a cultural symbol uniting music with tradition, bridging local art and national representation. His selection for the Lifetime Achievement Award reinforces the notion that veteran creators continue to inspire younger generations. At a time of cultural budget cuts and societal shifts, this recognition carries a strong social and cultural message: art is not just entertainment, but preservation and tribute.
Izhar Cohen Reveals Vocal Cord Surgery
With remarkable honesty, Cohen revealed during the ceremony that he had undergone surgery to remove a benign tumor found on one of his vocal cords – and announced that he would not be able to sing in the coming weeks. In an interview with N12, he said:
“Fortunately, it wasn’t related to anything malignant… There’s a structured process to restore the cords to full function”.
At the emotional and celebratory evening held in Petah Tikva, the 74-year-old singer received the Lifetime Achievement Award and shared heartfelt words. He mentioned his parents, Sarah Cohen and Suleiman the Great, and his older brother, Hofni Cohen, who had also received this award before passing away. Cohen expressed his deep gratitude when his sister, the singer Vardina Cohen, surprised him by joining him on stage. He also shared details about his recent surgery with the audience.
Unable to sing himself, he invited the crowd to join the band in performing “Abanibi“, dedicating it to IDF soldiers, former hostages, families of captives, missing soldiers, and bereaved families. Cohen also addressed his fellow artists, wishing them stronger support and more government funding, while expressing sorrow for his friend, singer Yoni Nimri, who had passed away just a day before.
Israel’s First Eurovision Champion and Cultural Symbol
Izhar Cohen, the first Israeli singer to win Eurovision, represented Israel twice in the contest. His major victory came in 1978 with the song “Abanibi“. Later, in 1985, he returned with the song “Olé Olé“, which impressively placed fifth. Cohen participated in the “Kdam Eurovision” several more times: in 1982 with “El HaOr“, which finished seventh, in 1987, performing a duet with his sister Vardina Cohen on “Musika Hee Neshika LaNetsach“, finishing fifth, and in 1996, attempting once more in a duet with Alon Jean, performing “Alpayim“, which finished tenth. Although he did not always succeed in representing Israel again, Izhar Cohen left an enduring mark on the history of Israel in Eurovision through his historic win and his continued spirited participation in future contests.
Watch Israel’s first Eurovision-winning performance from 1978:
Eurovision 2026: This will be Israel’s 48th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the contest in 1973 and has won four times. Its most recent victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy”, performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
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Ilay Gaist is a leading Israeli content creator and writer specializing in the Eurovision Song Contest. He is a well-known commentator with extensive expertise in the contest’s history, rules, and dynamics. His passion for Eurovision drives him to deliver rich, professional, and innovative content to his audience.
Ilay holds a bachelor’s degree in Arabic and has a multilingual background. He also engages in cultural research, with a particular focus on global culinary traditions and the evolution of local cuisines around the world.
