Israel are another of Eurovision's most successful nations, winning on 3 occasions, the last of which was in 1998 with the wonderful Dana International, singing 'Diva'.  1999 saw them secure a comfortable 5th place but it all went downhill from there.  In fairness, their entries were very bad and that's why they could only muster 22nd in 2000, 16th in 2001, a slightly better 12th with a slightly better song in 2002, 19th in 2003 and failure to qualify with 11th place in 2004 (which I think was quite could considering the song was probably the worst in the Contest that year).  2005 saw a happy return to form, proving that a great song can get great results.  Shiri Maimon with 'Time to say goodbye' performed in Hebrew and English got Israel through the Semi-Final in 7th place, and she managed to better it with 4th place in the Final.  So Israel find themselves directly qualified to the 2006 final, so will we see another great song from Israel or a return to form?

 

 

Unfortunately, it's a return to form for Israel this year, with one of the worst song's (in my opinion!) of the whole Contest.  Israel simply haven't realised that if a song's good enough in the Semi-Final to make it through to the Final, qualifiers won't attain last place in the Final.  Therefore, someone already directly qualified for the Final is destined for last position (Norway 2004, Germany 2005).  If you don't enter a stomper of a song, you could fall into the twenties.  This could be one of those songs.  It's a boring male ballad sung in English and Hebrew and is by no means as melodic or catchy as last year's attempt.  In fairness, Eddie can sing (he was a member of Eden, 5th in 1999), but he'd be safer with something up tempo rather that something quite as dur as this.

 

 

As I said, Israel have gone the wrong way about repeating last year's success with this boring, 'I can't wait 'til these three minutes are up' ballad.  Israel don't have many neighbours, and last year were favoured solely for their song.  This year however, they don't have a leg to stand on, and could repeat Ireland's 2004 misfortune, and Israel don't have the UK to save them.

 

 

The songs OK, but I still think it's too dull and boring.  With Europe going for Ireland and Bosnia-Herzegovina in the Semi, I think they'll maintain their popularity while this will be forgotten about with a poor draw.  No change here then.

 

 

After having watched this performance in the Final I thought my prediction was going to be very wrong indeed.  I actually thought this had every chance of making the top ten, so when I found myself to have actually been proved right, I was a little gobsmacked - to say the least!  I thought the Israeli entry was a corker of a performance, and was much more professional and enjoyable than I had expected, so I suggest they did so badly again according to the draw - coming up just 3rd of 24.  The set was perfect - all in white, very prefoessional looking and laid back.  The singers sang really well, not to mention the lady at the end with the really high notes who really lifted the song.  Eddie sang flawlessly as well.  The song was good but not great though, and I really think Israel are going to have to push the boat out again next year and find someone like Shiri Maimon (2005) who has that all important sparkle about them if they are to make it through the Semi Final and into the running for victory in 2007.