Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2003

Israel has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973.[1] For the 2003 contest, the Israel Broadcasting Authority selected Lior Narkis through a committee in November 2002.[2] The committee asked him to submit four songs from which the entry would be chosen and made contingency plans to approach singer David D'Or if Narkis was unavailable.[2] The contest was scheduled for May 24 in Riga, Latvia.[2]

The entry was chosen through a televised selection show broadcast from Jerusalem's HaOman 17 club and hosted by Eden Harel.[3] Narkis performed four original songs: "ברך את העולם" ("Bless the World," lyrics by Yossi Gispan, music by Uzi Hitman), "לא רוצה להיות כוכב" (lyrics by Ilan Shachaf; music by Ilan Shachaf and Tzur Ben-Ze'ev), "צ'ופי צ'ופי" (lyrics by Yossi Gispan, music by Yoni Ro'eh), and "מילים לאהבה" (lyrics by Yossi Gispan, music by Yoni Ro'eh).[3]

Voting combined the public's telephone and SMS votes, weighted at 60 percent, with the Israel Broadcasting Authority Eurovision committee's vote, weighted at 40 percent.[4] "מילים לאהבה" led the published result with 75 percent. Ynet reported 13 percent for "ברך את העולם" and 12 percent each for "לא רוצה להיות כוכב" and "צ'ופי צ'ופי"; as published, these figures do not sum to 100 percent.[4]

"מילים לאהבה" ("Words for Love") was written by Yossi Gispan and composed by Yoni Ro'eh.[4] Its most distinctive feature was a multilingual chorus in which Narkis expressed love in six languages.[1] A fragment ran: "It's my way to say I want you / sagapo, je t'aime, I love you / te amo או פשוט אוהב אותך." The excerpt combines Greek, French, English, Spanish, and Hebrew; the cited accounts state that the full song used six languages but do not identify all six.[1][4]

Narkis was to perform alongside five female backing performers whose skirts and positioning were intended to spell "I LOVE YOU" when they stood together.[5] Pre-contest coverage described his outfit as having a "macho-model" style. Motti Hasson designed the costumes, and Tzadi Tzarfati directed the staging.[5] Israel was scheduled to perform 13th in Riga.[5]

The 48th Eurovision Song Contest took place in Riga, Latvia. Turkey won with Sertab Erener's "Everyway That I Can" after a close race involving Belgium's Urban Trad and Russia's t.A.T.u.[6] Ynet and Walla reported that Israel finished 19th with 17 points.[6][7]

Israel received eight points from France, five from Russia, three from Greece, and one from Spain.[7] The contest also featured Ukraine's debut participation. Its entry, "Hasta la Vista," was written by Israeli songwriters Tzvika Pik and Mirit Shem-Or and placed 14th.[1]

The 17-point result was treated as disappointing in contemporary and later coverage. The multilingual concept and elaborate staging did not produce a high placement in the Ynet and Walla accounts.[1][7] Walla suggested at the time that Israel's political situation might be invoked to explain the result, but this was commentary rather than an independently established causal explanation.[7]

The cited Israeli sources agree that Israel received 17 points but differ on its final placement. Contemporary reports from Ynet and Walla recorded 19th place.[6][7] A later Mako retrospective instead listed the result as 16th.[8] The discrepancy cannot be resolved from these accounts alone and is therefore presented without selecting between them.