Israel originally planned to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The Israeli broadcaster Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan) collaborated with the commercial broadcaster Keshet and Tedy Productions, which organisied the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion ("The Next Star for Eurovision"). The competition was won by Eden Alene, with a separate national final, HaShir HaBa L'Eurovizion ("The Next Song for Eurovision"), held to select her entry "Feker Libi". However, the contest was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background[edit]
Prior to the 2020 Contest, Israel had participated in the Eurovision Song Contest forty-two times since its first entry in 1973.[1] Israel has won the contest on four occasions: in 1978 with the song "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" performed by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, in 1979 with the song "Hallelujah" performed by Milk and Honey, in 1998 with the song "Diva" performed by Dana International and in 2018 with the song "Toy" performed by Netta Barzilai. 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, finishing fourth. Having failed to qualify for the final for four consecutive years (2011–14), Israel reached the final for the first time in five years, with Nadav Guedj finishing ninth in 2015, and the country has participated in the final every year since. Israel's fourth victory came when Netta won the 2018 contest in Lisbon, with the song "Toy". The following year, when the contest was held in Tel Aviv, Kobi Marimi represented the country on home soil with the song "Home", finishing twenty-third with 35 points in the final.
The Israeli entry for the 2020 contest was selected through the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion ("The Next Star for Eurovision"), which was organised by Keshet and Tedy Productions. This was the fifth time that the Israeli entry was selected through a collaboration with Keshet and Tedy Productions. An additional show also enabled the public to select the song that the Israeli representative will sing, which had previously been selected internally.
Before Eurovision[edit]
HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion[edit]
The singer who will perform the Israeli entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 2020 was selected through the reality singing competition HaKokhav HaBa L'Eurovizion ("The Next Star for Eurovision"), the original version of the international format Rising Star produced by Tedy Productions and Keshet Media Group. HaKokhav HaBa has been used since 2015 to select the Israeli artist for Eurovision. The shows were hosted by Assi Azar and Rotem Sela and featured a judging panel composed of Asaf Amdursky, Keren Peles, Shiri Maimon (2005 Israeli Eurovision entrant), Static & Ben-El Tavori and Itay Levi.
The competition commenced on 20 November 2019. All shows in the competition were broadcast on Keshet 12 as well as online via mako.co.il.
Auditions[edit]
The auditions were broadcast between 20 November and 18 December 2019. In total, 59 contestants qualified for the next phase of the competition following the withdrawal of Itzik Shamli, one of the previously qualified contestants.
Among the contestants were Ohad Shragai, a finalist of Kokhav Nolad season 8 and one of the composers behind "Home", the Israeli entry in 2019; Eden Alene, the winner of the X Factor Israel season 3; Moran Aharoni, a competitor of Kokhav Nolad season 4; Nicki Goldstein, a comedian who participated in the 2011 and 2013 Israeli national finals; Lihi Toledano, the daughter of the 1982 Israeli representative Avi Toledano; Daniel Ben-Haim, a competitor of Kokhav Nolad season 5; Eddie, a competitor of The Voice Israel season 1,;Judah Gavra, who participated in the 2013 Israeli and 2018 Sammarinese national finals; and Liora Itzhak, an Indian-born singer.
Shefita ,who placed third in the 2019 Israeli national final, performed as two different characters during the auditions and the shortlisting rounds and withdrew from the competition after her performances.
Audition 1 – 20 November 2019[2] | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Ella-Lee Lahav | "You Don't Own Me" |  | | | | | 96% | Advanced |
| 2 | Ilor Bar | "Power" |  | | | | | 67% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Ohad Shragai | "I Wanna Dance with Somebody" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 4 | Noa Maman | "Khayati" | | | | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Raviv Kaner | "Angels" | | | | | | 93% | Advanced |
| 6 | Danielle Ben Efraim | "Neshima" | | | | | | 72% | Advanced |
| 7 | Orr Amrami-Brockman | "Ma ata rotse mimeni" | | | | | | 97% | Advanced |
Audition 2 – 23 November 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Eden Alene | "Alive" | | | | | | 87% | Advanced |
| 2 | Yanai Ben Hamo | "Yesh en sof" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 3 | Lee Eller | "Sheva ba'erev" | | | | | | 63% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Lali Kolishkin | "Stay" | | | | | | 95% | Advanced |
| 5 | Avihu Pinhasov Rhythm Club | "Hilton Tel Aviv" / "Yamim yafim" | | | | | | 79% | Advanced |
| 6 | Adam Lahav | "Crazy in Love" | | | | | | 67% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Loai Ali | "Tslil meitar" | | | | | | 79% | Advanced |
Audition 3 – 24 November 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Ido Kolton | "Rise Up" | | | | | | 72% | Advanced |
| 2 | Ram Naim | "Tafast li makom" | | | | | | 41% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Dana Lapidot | "All by Myself" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
Audition 4 – 27 November 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Gaya Shaki | "Set Fire to the Rain" | | | | | | 87% | Advanced |
| 2 | Gafna Rachel Pinto | "Listen" | | | | | | 69% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Yohai Tzarfati | "Mitga'aga'at" | | | | | | 71% | Advanced |
| 4 | Nathan Katorza | "It Will Rain" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 5 | Yuval Beider-Peretz | "Hakol ad lekan" | | | | | | 67% | Saved |
| 6 | Omer Eliyahu | "Rak shelach" | | | | | | 83% | Advanced |
| 7 | David Sodi | "Halev sheli" | | | | | | 28% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Galit Fahima | "Oolai hapa'am" | | | | | | 49% | Eliminated |
| 9 | Dorel Saadon | "Someone You Loved" | | | | | | 95% | Advanced |
Audition 5 – 30 November 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Yahel Yaish | "Soldi" | | | | | | 71% | Advanced |
| 2 | Zohar Manor | "Nana Banana" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 3 | Moran Aharoni | "Believer" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 4 | Sagi Trabelsi | "Lekh im ha'emet shelkha" | | | — | | | 46% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Racheli Tareka | "Issues" | | | | | | 87% | Advanced |
| 6 | Nicki Goldstein | "Someone You Loved" | | | | | | 85% | Advanced |
| 7 | Stefanie Dúnio | "Whenever, Wherever" | | | | | | 65% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Lihi Toledano | "Af akhat" | | | | | | 91% | Advanced |
Audition 6 – 1 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Shira Gavrielov | "Shallow" | | | | | | 91% | Advanced |
| 2 | Dave Spektor | "Caruso" | | | | — | | 58% | Saved |
| 3 | Itzik Shamli | "Kama haser" | | | | | | 81% | Withdrew[3] |
Audition 7 – 2 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Daniel Ben Haim | "Ve'im tavo'i elai" | | | | | | 81% | Advanced |
| 2 | Kim Kate Rose | "Addicted to You" | | | — | | — | 49% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Or Eddie | "Barcelona" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
Audition 8 – 4 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Yinon Hagag | "Tagidi lo" | | | | | | 80% | Advanced |
| 2 | Oneg Israel | "Turning Tables" | | | | | | 80% | Advanced |
| 3 | Barak Biton | "Livchor nachon" | | | —[a] | | | 46% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ofer Naveh | "Laisse-moi t'aimer" | | | | | | 71% | Advanced |
| 5 | Shira Tzafari | "Karma Police" | | | | | | 58% | Saved |
| 6 | Judah Gavra | "Somebody to Love" | | | — | | | 33% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Galit Weizman | "The Show Must Go On" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
Audition 9 – 7 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Eden Zohar Sivan | "Who's Lovin' You" | | | | | | 92% | Advanced |
| 2 | 80 Vemashu | "Big in Japan" | | | | | | 55% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Nethanel Sherf | "Ma ata rotse mimeni" | | | | | | 86% | Advanced |
| 4 | Eilon Elkayam | "Haim shlemim" | | | | | | 80% | Advanced |
| 5 | Layla Suleiman | "Beautiful" | | | | | | 80% | Withdrew |
| 6 | Alan Butcher | "Balaila" | | | | — | | 84% | Advanced |
| 7 | Lidor Sailo | "Cry Me a River" | | | | | | 53% | Eliminated |
Audition 10 – 8 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | HaTavlinim | "Nim'as li mimekh" | | | —[b] | | | 59% | Saved |
| 2 | Noa Farag | "Without You" | | [c] | | [c] | | 66% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Eldad Cohen | "Klum lo ta'im" | | | | | | 78% | Advanced |
Audition 11 – 9 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Gaella Brown | "Ain't Nobody" | — | — | | | | 75% | Advanced |
| 2 | Nave Mamo | "Hello" | | | | | | 51% | Eliminated |
| 3 | Liora Itzhak | "Mala mala" | | | | | | 74% | Advanced |
Audition 12 – 11 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Chen Hadar | "Jealous" | | | | | | 83% | Advanced |
| 2 | Michael Tsidon | "Khayati" | — | | | | | 72% | Advanced |
| 3 | Atara Oryah | "Achshav o l'olam" | — | | | | | 73% | Advanced |
| 4 | Hila Vaknin | "Rak otkha" | | | | | | 17% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Dikla Malka | "Stone Cold" | | | | | | 66% | Saved |
| 6 | Wonder Years | "It Must Be Love" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
| 7 | Bar Furman | "Something's Got a Hold on Me" | | | | | | 78% | Advanced |
Audition 13 – 14 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | HaHertzelim | "Soldi" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
| 2 | Oren Ettinger | "Crazy" | | | | | | 85% | Advanced |
| 3 | Yuval Gez | "Over the Rainbow" | | | | | | 69% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Eden Shabi | "Mima at mefahedet" | | | | | | 72% | Advanced |
| 5 | Lital David | "Jealous" | | | | | | 46% | Saved |
| 6 | Zion Huri | "Hurricane" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
| 7 | Rotem Edri Tuchner | "Djadja" | | | | | —[d] | 47% | Eliminated |
Audition 14 – 15 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Yossi Asher | "En li ahava" | | | | | | 51% | Saved |
| 2 | Noy Halperin | "Never Enough" | | | | | | 72% | Advanced |
| 3 | Maya Eliyahu | "Shkufim" | | | | | | 48% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ron Peretz | "Roobama" | | | | | | 81% | Advanced |
Audition 15 – 18 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Lidor Ben Atia | "Shetisaref ha'ahava" | | | | | | 70% | Advanced |
| 2 | Linoy Akala[e] | "Get Lucky" | — | | | | — | 41% | Saved |
| 3 | Ben Tzur | "Shmama" | | | | | | 56% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Shir Argi | "Yerushalayim shel zahav" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| 5 | Amit Sadan | "You Should See Me in a Crown" | | | | | | 41% | Eliminated |
| 6 | Shiran Avayou | "It's My Life" | | | | | | 92% | Advanced |
Shortlisting rounds[edit]
Shortlisting Round 1 – 21 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Ohad Shragai | "Mono" | | | | | | 60% | Saved |
| 2 | Lali Kolishkin | "Addicted to You" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 3 | Yahel Yaish | "Perfect" | — | | | | | 20% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Gaya Shaki | "Bad Romance" | | — | | | | 80% | Saved |
| 5 | Ella-Lee Lahav | "Into You" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 6 | Galit Weizman | "Russian Roulette" | | | | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Atara Oryah | Original song | | | | | — | 20% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Eden Shabi | "Aluf haolam" | | | | | | 40% | Eliminated |
| 9 | Zion Huri | "Proud" | | | | | | 20% | Eliminated |
| 10 | Lidor Ben Atia | "HaLev sheli" | | | | — | | 80% | Eliminated |
| 11 | Orr Amrami-Brockman | "Nitzakht iti hakol" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
Shortlisting Round 2 – 25 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Raviv Kaner | "Sign of the Times" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 2 | Moran Aharoni | "Love Runs Out" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 3 | Dikla Malka | "Who's Lovin' You" | | | — | | | 20% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Michael Tsidon | "Aramam" | — | [f] | | | [f] | 80% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Ofer Naveh | "Yekariti" | | | — | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 6 | HaTavlinim | "Tango" | | | | | | 80% | Saved |
| 7 | Lital David | "Freedom" | | | | — | — | 0% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Eilon Elkayam | "Misheo oleh tamid iti" | | | — | | — | 0% | Eliminated |
| 9 | Alan Butcher | "Impossible" | | — | | | — | 0% | Eliminated |
| 10 | Or Eddie | "Ohevet oti amiti" | | | | | | 60% | Saved |
| 11 | Avihu Pinhasov Rhythm Club | "Avrom" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
Shortlisting Round 3 – 28 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Dorel Saadon | "Heaven" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 2 | Eden Alene | "Fallin'" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 3 | Yuval Beider-Peretz | "Veulai" | | — | | | | 20% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Omer Eliyahu | "Shuvi lebeitech" | | | | | | 80% | Saved |
| 5 | Sarah Hoffman | "Womanizer" | | | | | — | 80% | Withdrew |
| 6 | Nicki Goldstein | "Million Reasons" | | | | | | 60% | Saved |
| 7 | Yohai Tzarfati | "Shmama" | | | | — | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Bar Furman | "Skyfall" | | | | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 9 | Dana Lapidot | "Mangina" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
Shortlisting Round 4 – 29 December 2019 | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| 1 | Nathan Katorza | "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" | | [f] | | | [f] | 100% | Advanced |
| 2 | Linoy and Gil | "You're the One That I Want" | | | | | | 100% | Advanced |
| 3 | Yossi Asher | "Besof mitraglim lehakol" | | [f] | — | | [f] | 80% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ron Peretz | "Af echad lo ba li" | — | | | | | 0% | Eliminated |
| 5 | Lihi Toledano | "Melade" | | | | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 6 | Shiran Avayou | "Poison" | — | | — | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 7 | Nethanel Sherf | "Hello" | | | | — | | 20% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Eden Zohar Sivan | "I Wish" | | — | | | | 60% | Saved |
| 9 | Loai Ali | "Kehev shel lohamim" | | | | | | 80% | Saved |
| 10 | Oneg Israel | "Aieka" | | [f] | | | [f] | 60% | Saved |
Eliminated contestants whose performances were not included in the shows | Chen Hadar | Ido Kolton | Shira Tzafari | Daniel Ben Haim |
| Liora Itzhak | Wonder Years | Danielle Ben Efraim | Noy Halperin |
| Yanai Ben Hamo | Dave Spektor | Oren Ettinger | Yinon Hagag |
| Eldad Cohen | Racheli Tareka | Zohar Manor | Gaella Brown |
| Shir Argi | HaHertzelim | Shira Gavrielov | |
Top 20 round[edit]
Top 20 Round – Show 1 – 4 January 2020 | Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| I | 1 | Eden Alene | "Power" | | | | | | 86% | Advanced |
| 2 | HaTavlinim | "Tel Aviv balayla" | | | | | | 70% | Saved |
| II | 3 | Or Eddie | "Kmo Cinderella" | | | | | | 50% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Orr Amrami-Brockman | "Kol yom kmo ness" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| III | 5 | Nathan Katorza | "Uptown Funk" | | | | | | 70% | Eliminated |
| 6 | Gaya Shaki | "Crazy" | | | | | | 92% | Advanced |
| IV | 7 | Ella-Lee Lahav | "Hey Mama" | | | | | | 90% | Advanced |
| 8 | Nicki Goldstein | "Creep" | | | | | | 73% | Saved |
Top 20 Round – Show 2 – 5 January 2020 | Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| V | 9 | Avihu Pinhasov Rhythm Club | "Zingara" / "Neshama kapara mami" | | | | | | 52% | Saved |
| 10 | Linoy and Gil | "Diamonds" | | | | | | 67% | Advanced |
| VI | 11 | Ohad Shragai | "Wake Me Up" | | | | | | 57% | Saved |
| 12 | Eden Zohar Sivan | "Doo Wop (That Thing)" | | | | | | 80% | Advanced |
| VII | 13 | Dana Lapidot | "I Don't Want to Miss a Thing" | | | | | | 61% | Eliminated |
| 14 | Moran Aharoni | "River" | | | | | | 85% | Advanced |
| VIII | 15 | Raviv Kaner | "The Show Must Go On" | | | | | | 55% | Saved |
| 16 | Dorel Saadon | "All of Me" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
Top 20 Round – Show 3 – 9 January 2020 | Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| IX | 17 | Oneg Israel | "Proud Mary" | | | | | | 47% | Eliminated |
| 18 | Lali Kolishkin | "Turning Tables" | | | | | | 88% | Advanced |
| X | 19 | Loai Ali | "Lindana Lindana" | | | | | | 60% | Saved |
| 20 | Omer Eliyahu | "Pri ganeh" | | | | | | 68% | Advanced |
Elimination shows[edit]
Heat 1 – Part 1 – 11 January 2020 | Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| I | 1 | Eden Alene and Moran Aharoni | "A Natural Woman" | | | | | | 92% | Advanced |
| 2 | Dorel Saadon and Eden Zohar Sivan | "Stand by Me" | | | | | | 75% | Saved |
| II | 3 | HaTavlinim | "Shnei meshugaim" | | | | | | 60% | Eliminated |
| 4 | Ohad Shragai | "Hey" | | | | | | 77% | Advanced |
| III | 5 | Avihu Pinhasov Rhythm Club | "Einaim sheli" | | | | | | 45% | Saved |
| 6 | Loai Ali | "Ratsiti ledaber itcha" | | | | | | 78% | Advanced |
| IV | 7 | Linoy and Gil | "Eretz ktana im safam" | | | — | | | 35% | Eliminated |
| 8 | Raviv Kaner | "Aba" | | | | | | 67% | Advanced |
| V | 9 | Ella-Lee Lahav and Orr Amrami-Brockman | "Señorita" | | | | | | 95% | Advanced |
Heat 1 – Part 2 – 13 January 2020 | Duel | Draw | Artist | Song | Judges' Vote | Score | Result |
| A. Amdursky | Static & B. El Tavori | S. Maimon | K. Peles | I. Levi |
| V | 10 | Gaya Shaki and Lali Kolishkin | "Umbrella" | | | | | | 88% | Saved |
| VI | 11 | Omer Eliyahu | "BMW shora" / "Nimas mimeh" | | | | | | 50% | Advanced |
| 12 | Nicki Goldstein | "California Dreamin'" | | | | | | 45% | Eliminated |
Israel
