Author: Ilay Gaist

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Daniel Shevtsov is the second contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 19 contestants remain in the race, including Shira Zloof, Shaked Solomon, Gal De Paz, Eitan Aharon, Mentamer Taganya and Noam Bettan. Full recap of Episode 17. Last Friday’s 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...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Saar Hadar is the first contestant to bid farewell to HaKokhav HaBa. 20 contestants remain in the race, including Agam Hazan, Elior Shemesh, Daniel Azar, Portrait Band, Gili Tsanaani, and Alona Erez. Full recap of Episode 16. Last night’s 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...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Noa Kirel opens up in an interview about the criticism directed at Israel, the withdrawal of five countries from Eurovision in protest of Israel’s participation, and various other hot topics related to the contest. Noa Kirel, Israel’s 2023 Eurovision representative with the song “Unicorn” — which earned third place — gave an emotional interview to the British national broadcaster BBC television program “The World Tonight”. Speaking openly, she reflected on the major changes in Eurovision since her performance, particularly in light of the ongoing Israel–Gaza conflict and the shifting attitudes toward Israeli participants over the past two years. Kirel highlighted the importance of Israel’s confirmed participation in the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest, set to take place in Vienna, Austria. She also commented on the decision by Iceland, Spain, The Netherlands, Ireland and Slovenia to withdraw from the contest in protest. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Kirel expressed her deep disappointment at the decision of the five countries to boycott Eurovision, citing accusations...

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo Mettler announces they are returning their trophy, protesting Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026. A week after the historic conference held by the EBU in Switzerland - approving Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026 - the controversy continues to escalate. Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo Mettler posted a statement on Instagram today (Thursday), declaring that they will return the trophy awarded for their victory. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); “I’ve decided to send the trophy back” "Last year I won Eurovision, and with it came the trophy, [...] Although I’m immensely grateful for the community around this competition and everything this experience has taught me - both as a person and an artist - today I no longer feel that this trophy belongs on my shelf. Eurovision claims to stand for unity, inclusion, and respect for everyone. These values are what made the contest meaningful for us. Yet Israel’s participation - while, according to the UN Independent...