Category: ISRAEL
Israel Calling 2018 🇮🇱 watch exclusive footage from the moment the fans stormed the delegations
ISRAEL – We managed to search and find exclusive footage from our cameras during the moment the fans stormed the delegations block during our departure from Rabin Square. On April 10th after the live show ended the organisers walked us through a safe passage behind the city hall to enter the safe parking lot and part for our hotel. But the fans spotted Netta and the Spanish duo, Alfred & Amaia and followed us.
To be honest the panic of the organisers was somehow unnecessary as the fans never threatened our security as the only thing they wanted was to greet the Eurostars and get a quick selfie with them. Of course you never know what might have happened as in these cases you only need one asshole to create a mess. The organisers shouted out immediately to walk back on the stairs and enter the main city hall premises where we were waiting for half an hour for the police to intervene.
Somehow we all felt like rock stars but there was never a single moment for someone to feel uncomfortable or unsafe. I think we all kinda loved that and this incident gave a sparkle two the glamorous event Israel Calling is, after all.
It was undoubtedly Netta’s moment, as Israelis consider her their ticket to the dream of winning the Eurovision Song Contest, 40 years after their first ever victory and 20 years since their last victory with Dana International.
Police estimation to the press was that the audience in Rabin Square was 20,000+, delegations estimate (on their own non-scientific way) that they think there were around 10,000 people and official organisers estimate 20-25,000 people in the area. No matter which is the real number the truth is that it is 15-20 times more, the 1999 Jerusalem Eurovision Song Contest edition. A fact that undoubtedly no one thought that Israel could pull through especially with all these considerations regarding security.
It was also funny to see some delegations to try to appease the fans throwing from tee city hall main premises balcony, CDs to the fans so they can have a compensation for the mess created that night. It was clear to us that delegations never tried to avoid the audience and play the “diva style” behaviour. Instead the were all seeking publicity in a way that can bring the fans and the artists together to interact.
Rabin Square is a large public city square in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel. Over the years it has been the site of numerous political rallies, parades, and other public events. In 1995 the square was renamed ‘Rabin Square’ following the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin which occurred there on November 4 of that year. The square is surrounded by the city hall building to the north (designed by the architect Menachem Cohen), Ibn Gabirol Street to the east, Frischmann Street to the south and Hen Boulevard to the west. It was designed alongside the city hall in 1964 by architects Yaski and Alexandroni.
In the late 1990s and early 2000s a great deal of criticism had been voiced about the Square’s appearance, most directed at the City Hall building. What in the 1960s was one of the city’s biggest and most impressive architectural designs came to be considered by critics as one of the city’s worst eyesores. Plans have been made (most of which have even been approved) to renovate the whole square and City Hall. These include giving City Hall a more modern look to fit in with the many new skyscrapers in Tel Aviv, and the construction of a large underground parking complex underneath the square to alleviate the lack of parking in the area. Opposition to the renovation plans mostly centers around arguments that the design of the square and City Hall are part of Tel Aviv’s history and should be preserved. As a result of this opposition, major reconstruction has been delayed. However, in 2010 a minor renovation project was carried out, in which an ecological water pool was constructed near the Holocaust commemorative monument, and around it a deck with a recreational area.
Israel Calling 2018 🇮🇱 Netta hopes she can win Eurovision 2018
ISRAEL – Despite the controversial interview of Dana International to oikotimes.com, Israelis are extremely optimistic they will manage to win the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest this year celebrating the 40th anniversary from their first ever victory and the 20th anniversary from Dana’s victory in Birmingham, a victory which marked the beginning of a new era in the contest’s history.
Netta Barzilai is the woman who can make the Israeli dream true, as the fans and non-fans across Europe both admits that this song its a winning material no matter if they are having fun or laugh with the song, not understanding the message or whatever. The only obstacle for Israel is clearly the mentality and the strategy of the national juries in Eurovision, which wee all know how most of them work when they see a favourite. Let’s not forget how many juries plundered Russian entry in the 2016 Eurovision edition, ranking Sergey Lazarev as 26th although he was undoubtedly not deserving such a treatment, and caused him to loose the trophy despite winning the tele voting. Let’s also not forget that in 2015 Italy would have won Eurovision if the juries didn’t destroy the fans’ dream.
Netta performed last in the 2018 Israel Calling even at Rabin Square making 20,000+ attendants in the audience too shout out for her and sing along. But it wasn’t only that. When the show finished and the organisers walked us to the safe parking to depart from the venue, hundreds of fans spotted the delegations and stormed Netta asking for a selfie and autograph. The young singer is obmiouly not used to such publicity and pressure but weirdly she responded with professionalism and smile to all challenges of the evening. The police couldn’t manage to secure the premises for at least 30 minutes and we were all remained in the city hall lobby surrounded by frenetic fans waiting for Netta.
Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 40 times since making its debut in 1973. Israel was able to enter the contest as a Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) member organisation of the European Broadcasting Union, which is responsible for the event. Israel has won the contest three times.
Israel’s first appearance at the contest in 1973 was successful, with Ilanit finishing fourth. Israel then achieved back to back victories in 1978 and 1979, with wins for Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, with the song “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” and Gali Atari and Milk and Honey, with “Hallelujah”. The country’s best results in the 1980s were the second-place finishes for Avi Toledano in 1982 and Ofra Haza in 1983.
Former winner Izhar Cohen returned to place fifth in 1985. Duo Datz finished third in 1991, before Israel achieved its third victory in 1998, with Dana International and “Diva”. Eden then finished fifth in 1999. Israel has hosted the contest twice, in 1979 and 1999, both times in Jerusalem. In 1980, the IBA declined to host the contest for a second successive year for financial reasons. Instead the contest was held in The Hague. As the date set for the 1980 contest conflicted with Yom Hazikaron – Israeli Memorial Day – Israel did not participate. This is the only time that the winning country did not compete the following year. As of 2014, Israel has the record for most participations in the contest without ever coming last, but it has placed second to last in the final three times, in 1986, 1993 and 2006.
Since the Introduction of the semi-finals in 2004, Israel has failed to reach the final six times. In 2014, the country failed to qualify for the fourth consecutive year, when Mei Feingold finished 14th (out of 15) in the second semi final, despite being one of the favourites to qualify. In 2015, Israel reached the final for the first time in five years, with Nadav Guedj finishing ninth. The only Israeli entrant to achieve a better result in the 21st century is Shiri Maimon in 2005, who gave the country its tenth top five result in the contest, finishing fourth.
Barzilai was born on 22 January 1993 in Hod HaSharon, where she still lives. At an early age, she moved with her family to Nigeria where she lived for four years and eventually returned to Israel. Prior to her mandatory enlistment to the Israeli Defense Forces, she spent a Service Year volunteering in the Nahal and did her military service in the Israeli Navy Band.
Israel Calling 2018 🇮🇱 the aftermath of live performances in the betting odds
note: due to copyright claims the Czech song has been muted
ISRAEL – The after math of the Israel Calling 2018 live show brought the following changes (un-changes) to the betting odds. Israel remains in the lead but betting odds slightly fallen despite thee enthusiasm Europe depicted in the international polls and fan voting across Europe.
Czech Republic is second in the betting odds after the live performances and Australia enters the Top 5.
Belgium, France, Belarus and Spain odds outright have fallen and Austria remains unchanged.
Lithuania, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Latvia, Georgia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Romania, Armenia, Montenegro, Slovenia, San Marino, Switzerland and Iceland are very low with their odd returns unchanged.
The largest-ever Eurovision promo event took place earlier this week at Rabin Square in Tel Aviv, showcasing artists from 27 countries in a free outdoor concert for a crowd of thousands.
It’s the third consecutive year that the organization Israel Calling has taken Eurovision Song Contest contestants on a pre-show tour of Israel.
The 2018 group included journalists from various European countries and of course Israel’s own Netta Barzilai, who will perform “Toy” in the first half of Eurovision Semi-Final 1 on May 8 in Lisbon.
“The Eurovision is not just a song contest; it’s a cultural phenomenon, promoting tolerance, open-mindedness, respect for one another and a love for humankind. The Eurovision holds a special place in the heart of many Israelis; the song contest is a night where we put our differences aside and share a feeling of pride,” said Ron Huldai, mayor of Tel Aviv-Yafo.
During their travels around the Israel, contestants from countries including Belgium, Australia, Great Britain, Montenegro, Spain, France, Czech Republic, Ireland and Serbia, among others, planted trees in Kayemet L’Israel-Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF)’s President’s Forest in Tzora. All participants received a planting certificate with their name and the country they are representing in Eurovision.
The four-day Israel Calling tour, initiated and produced by Tali Eshkoli, was sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage, the Ministry of Tourism, the Jewish National Fund and the Municipality of Tel Aviv-Yafo.
“I am happy that we have such a wonderful opportunity to show the beauty of Israel to the artists, and to celebrate Eurovision together that will promote each and every one of the artists in front of potential Israeli voters,” Eshkoli said.
Israel Calling 2018 🇮🇱 Sennek reveals the story behind the song in a mystic interview at Zedekaih’s Cave in Jerusalem
ISRAEL – In the mystic cave of Zedekaih, the organisers of Israel Calling 2018 happily surprised us with an event which was announced the very last minute. Former Israeli Eurostars were about to perform as already reported by oikotimes.com 200 meters below the earth surface.
Zedekiah’s Cave — also called Solomon’s Quarries — is a 5-acre (20,000 m2) underground meleke limestone quarry that runs the length of five city blocks under the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. It was carved over a period of several thousand years and is a remnant of the largest quarry in Jerusalem, stretching from Jeremiah’s Grotto and the Garden Tomb to the walls of the Old City. The cave has great historical importance in Freemasonry.
During the event we got Sennek from Belgium in the cave and interviewed her. We spoke with her about her song. We found out the true story about it and we were amazed from the honesty of emotions this song is full with. Off the record we found out about the use of the broken tea pot which was actually the first reaction of the person who listened to the song as Sennek reveals.
The next day Sennek got on stage at Rabin Square and presented her song entry for the 2018 Eurovision Song Contest. Some might think that Sennek didn’t gave her 100% during this live performance but one thing is for sure: when the rehearsals conclude in Lisbon, this song will slay the scoreboard. Yes, it’s one of our own favourites and we love it every second of it. A James Bond sound with truly personal and honest emotions. One of the best interviews we ever had.
