Ori Berko is the third contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 18 contestants remain in the race, including Stav Vaknin, Tamir Levy, Michael HarPaz, Shaia Avitan, Nave Levi and Dorin Or. Full recap of Episode 18.

Last week, a special episode revealed the 21 contestants who made it into the finalists’ team of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2026. The decision was made after a tense evening of repeated performances before the season’s five judges — with one clear goal: only one contestant will represent Israel at Eurovision. The selection process dramatically narrowed the competition, officially positioning the remaining contestants in the opening lineup for the battle to represent Israel at Eurovision.

Tonight, seven contestants took the show’s main stage, facing off head-to-head. According to the format, the contestant receiving the lowest score would be eliminated at the end of the episode — marking the immediate end of their Eurovision journey. This first elimination round heightened the tension and made one thing clear: the road to Eurovision is short, competitive, and unforgiving. The grand finale is expected to take place in about a month.

The last seven contestants to perform tonight were Stav Vaknin, Tamir Levy, Michael HarPaz, Shaia Avitan, Nave Levi, Ori Berko, and Dorin Or.

Stav Vaknin

Stav Vaknin chose to perform the song “Yom Kippur” (originally by Yasmin Muallem). It was a truly beautiful performance — she is an exceptionally unique singer who completely owns the stage. The song fits her perfectly, like a glove. While the performance didn’t necessarily soar to new heights, there is no doubt she is an extraordinary vocalist with a very distinctive tone. The judges compared her to Shiri Maimon, for her stunning voice.

Shiri said:

 “You’re amazing. I’m absolutely in love with you. I loved the artistic direction you took with this song — the theatrical element, the musical‑pop vibe. You’re a singer and a performer, and I adore you”.

Assaf commented:

“You’re clearly very musical, but you didn’t need to push so hard — it felt a bit shouty”.

Eden said:

“I have one small ‘but’. I have no doubt you’re a great singer, one of the best on the show. There’s something you do unconsciously that makes the performance feel a bit too technical. You need to find your moment — maybe then it’ll resonate with me more”.

Keren added:

“You move me. You have tremendous strength, and with each episode you’ll bring something new. I have a feeling you won’t be sitting on that couch for long”.

Four judges voted in her favor, Assaf voted against. Stav received 74%, setting the bar for the next contestant — hoping they score lower.

Tamir Levy

Tamir Levy chose to perform the song “Karma Police” (originally by Radiohead) and needed to score at least 75% to secure his place in the next round. From the moment he opened his mouth, we were captivated. The stage direction for his performance was brilliant — Tamir began singing from inside a cage and quickly broke free. But honestly? Even if he had sung on an empty stage, it would have been great. A powerful, moving performance that exploded in intensity toward the end, making it absolutely outstanding. Well done, Tamir.

Shiri said:

“He’s no fool — from his very first number he came to win hearts. He sang a song, gave us an Amir Benayoun‑style performance, brought warmth and a touch of Middle Eastern vocal runs, and totally won us over. And now he came as himself, exactly as he wanted, delivering not only a show but also a stunning vocal performance”.

Assaf commented:

“I felt it wasn’t sincere enough. In focusing so much on the melody, he tried to smooth the edges instead of embracing the pain behind it. He has a strong voice and a powerful stage presence, but unfortunately, to my taste, I saw him somewhat avoiding that emotional confrontation”.

Four judges voted in his favor, Assaf voted against. Tamir scored 75% and advanced to the next round.

Michael HarPaz

Michael HarPaz chose to perform the song “Ani” (originally by his former band, Hi‑Five). He needed to score at least 75% to secure his place in the next round. He is an outstanding vocalist and a true rock star with extensive experience, something that’s instantly noticeable the moment he starts singing. It’s clear that this is a singer with proven stage presence. Behind him, visuals showed photos from his days in the band Hi‑Five, where he began his musical career. His delivery was emotional yet effortless, moving seamlessly between low and high notes. Michael is living proof that age has no boundaries when it comes to Eurovision.

Shiri said:

“Experience, experience — tell me, on what stage hasn’t he stood, both in Israel and worldwide?”

Itay added:

“You’re exactly in the right place — what a performance”.

Eden commented:

“This was the first time since the beginning of the season that I actually shed tears with you. Beyond your touching words about Amir Freesher Gutman (of blessed memory, who wrote the song) and the special person he was — when Itay told you that you’re exactly where you need to be and that you’re blossoming, I could see that on you. I could feel how good this makes you. You can’t compete with the sincerity you bring, and with what time has given you. We have many young contestants here, full of natural ‘wow’ talent, but they don’t yet have the grit, the roughness, the struggles, or the tears”.

All five judges voted in his favor. Michael received 81% and advanced to the next round.

Shaia Avitan

Shaia Avitan chose to perform the song “The Climb” (originally by Miley Cyrus). She needed to score at least 75% to secure her place in the next round. It was a lovely performance. Her emotion was audible throughout — not flawless, but heartfelt. You could sense her excitement, it may not have been her best, but there’s no doubt she’s a phenomenal singer who truly belongs here. We’re certain she’ll continue to progress.

Shiri said:

“I adore Shaia, but I’ve reached a point where I’m not sure — is she right for Eurovision?”

Assaf commented:

“She’s got the look, the confidence, the musicality — she’s an excellent singer”.

Itay added:

“You have an amazing voice and the full package. Did you completely blow me away? Not quite”.

Four judges voted in his favor, Eden voted against. Shaia received 74%, but after a tie-break, her score was 0.2% lower than Stav’s, and now Shaia stands at risk of elimination.

Nave Levi

Nave Levi chose to perform the song “Rak SheTeda Et HaEmet” (originally by Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2002, Sarit Hadad). He needed to score at least 75% to secure his place in the next round. His performance was artistic and distinctive, his voice stands out completely within this lineup. Wow — even in the high notes, he was simply astounding. The staging was mesmerizing, and Nave commanded the screen. Unfortunately, it wasn’t enough for him to advance, which is a shame — it was a very strong performance.

Assaf said:

“I think he’s a star, but there’s still a gap between that and Eurovision. I love your voice, but it’s not the right fit”.

Eden commented:

“You’ve got all the makings of a successful singer, but I don’t think it suits Eurovision”.

Itay added:

“Here’s a singer who sings from the soul. You’re going to go far. I understand what the others are saying, but I believe there are no rules in Eurovision — you’ll move forward”.

Keren said:

“You’re pure talent — pure”.

Assaf and Eden voted against him. Nave scored 55% and now stands at risk of elimination.

Ori Berko

He needed to score at least 56% to secure his place in the next round.

Ori Berko chose to perform the song “Dvarim SheRatziti Lomar” (originally by Yehuda Poliker). Ori joined the team for a reason — he’s a talented singer who will undoubtedly go far in his career. That said, it’s fair to admit that this wasn’t the most precise performance. It was indeed emotional and carried a certain uniqueness, yet at times, one wonders whether the emotion stemmed from Ori himself or from Poliker’s iconic song. Either way, we hope he grows and refines his craft, though in my opinion, this performance wasn’t strong enough for the competition.

Shiri said:

“You’re an excellent singer. It’s a beautiful and very emotional song, but something held you back”.

Itay commented:

“This song strongly evokes a Memorial Day. Something didn’t quite work for you this time, but you’re a real singer — you’ll have a career”.

Keren said:

“I was very emotional; it was difficult for me. I drew a comparison between you and Nave — you belong in the profession. The vote against you is one of the costs of this format. It just passed me by, something felt technical”.

Four judges voted against him, Eden voted in his favor. Ori received 37% and now stands at risk of elimination.

Dorin Or

She needed to score at least 38% to secure her place in the next round.

Dorin Or chose to perform her original song “Narkomanit”. She is undoubtedly one of the most unique contestants in the show. Dorin proved it in her audition, and again in this performance. She’s moving, raw, and her voice stands apart in this entire lineup — pure chills. A long and promising journey awaits her in the competition, no doubt. As for whether this could reach Eurovision — We’re not sure, but the performance itself was excellent.

Shiri said:

“This is an amazing song — it’s a new wave happening right now, where singers do what truly suits them. We’re so used to molds and formulas — but you’re wonderful”.

Assaf commented:

“I think it was powerful, maybe too powerful — a bit overwhelming”.

Keren added:

“You’re amazing, I love what you’re creating”.

Four judges voted in her favor, Assaf voted against. Dorin received 76% and advanced to the next round.

Ori Berko, who achieved the lowest score of the evening, became the third contestant eliminated from the show.

“HaKokhav HaBa” for Eurovision

Ahead of Eurovision 2026, the Israeli national broadcaster decided to continue its collaboration with Keshet 12 in selecting the next Israeli representative for the contest. This partnership between the broadcaster and Keshet has brought Israel seven consecutive qualifications to the Grand Final, highlighted by Netta Barzilai’s victory with the song “Toy”, which brought Eurovision to Israel.

We’ll be here throughout the entire season, reporting on all the latest news, updates, and predictions – stay tuned!

Follow us on Instagram | YouTube | TikTok | Twitter

Israel at Eurovision 2025

“New Day Will Rise” is the song performed by Yuval Raphael, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 11th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 203 points and finished second overall with 357 points in the grand final. Israel ranked first in the public vote but only 14th with the jury. This marks the third consecutive year that Israel has reached the top five – an unprecedented achievement.

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.