Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2021

Israel had participated in Eurovision since 1973 and had won four times before the 2021 contest, in 1978, 1979, 1998 and 2018.[1] Israel’s 2018 victory, by Netta Barzilai, led to the 2019 contest being held in Israel; the Netherlands hosted in 2021 after Dutch singer-songwriter Duncan Laurence won in 2019.[1]

Eden Alene had originally been selected to represent Israel in 2020 after winning the television competition HaKokhav Haba La’Eurovizion, but that contest was canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Israel’s public broadcaster then decided she would represent the country in 2021 instead.[4][5] Her selection also had significance as she became Israel’s first representative of Ethiopian descent; she had won Israel’s X Factor singing contest in January 2018, when she was 17.[6]

Alene’s original 2020 entry, “Feker Libi,” was replaced for the 2021 contest. That song had lyrics in Hebrew, Arabic, Amharic and English.[1] Israeli audiences chose “Set Me Free” from three finalists: “Set Me Free,” “La La Love” and “Ooh La La.”[7]

The finalists were selected from nine songs submitted for public voting in December 2020. A committee chose one finalist, while the other two were selected through public voting; the nine songs had themselves been chosen by a Kan committee from about 200 submissions.[4][7] The three songs were presented in music videos, and viewers voted through an app for six days. The winning song was announced on January 25, 2021, during a special broadcast.[4][7]

“Set Me Free,” written and composed by Amit Mordechai, Ido Netzer, Noam Zaltin and Ron Carmi, was described as a self-empowerment song about leaving a toxic relationship, with a broader message for people seeking freedom.[1][7] A revised audio mix and music video appeared in March, about two months before the first semifinal. The revised version was described as more dance-club-oriented; its video showed Alene waking a gray, sleeping world that gradually filled with color and energy.[8]

The selection process drew criticism because viewers judged the songs from music videos rather than live performances. Eurovision commentator Alon Amir said this did not give a full picture of how the songs might work on stage. The process also attracted reports that “Ooh La La” had to change some lyrics after suspicions that a co-writer had used it to promote a lip product, which would have breached contest rules; these were reported allegations, not an established finding.[7]

Alene performed “Set Me Free” in the first semifinal in Rotterdam on May 18, 2021. Sixteen countries competed for ten places in the final, and Alene qualified; a later account placed her fifth in the semifinal.[9][2] Her qualification extended Israel’s run of six consecutive finals, although Israel had qualified automatically in 2019 as host after Barzilai’s 2018 win.[5]

Her performance featured dancing, a black-and-white costume designed by Alon Livne and a prominent high “whistle note.”[10] Alene received 99 points from juries, including 12 each from Italy and North Macedonia, and 93 points from the public vote; Azerbaijan awarded her the public vote’s 12 points.[2] After the result, she thanked people in Hebrew, Amharic and Arabic, wrapped herself in the Israeli flag and recited the “Shema Yisrael” prayer while waiting to learn whether she had qualified.[10] She later said she had hidden under the flag and repeated the prayer because she wanted to reach the final for her country, and credited her dancers with helping her through difficult moments in the performance.[5]

Alene performed before a smaller-than-usual audience in Rotterdam.[9] The contest’s final was also held before a reduced live audience after 53,000 COVID-19 tests had been conducted for fans, staff and performers.[11] Ahead of the final, Alene said the delegation had hoped for a running-order position nearer the middle, which it considered more favorable for influencing the public vote; she was assigned third. She continued vocal practice and rehearsals, including a jury rehearsal that served as a backup recording in case of COVID-related or other problems.[12]

The final took place in Rotterdam with 26 countries competing. Alene performed third, after Cyprus and Albania, accompanied by five dancers. She wore two dresses by Alon Livne and a crown-style hairstyle, and concluded by thanking the audience in Hebrew, Arabic, English and Amharic.[3]

Israel finished 17th with 93 points: 73 from national juries and 20 from the public vote.[2] The public vote awarded Israel 12 points from Azerbaijan, five from France, two from Cyprus and one from Romania.[2] Seventeen countries’ juries awarded Israel points; the largest amounts were eight each from North Macedonia and Norway, followed by seven from Ukraine and six each from Poland and the United Kingdom.[3] Israel’s jury gave its 12 points to Switzerland and its 10 to Lithuania.[3]

The public vote accounted for half of the voting.[3] Alene said she was disappointed not to finish in the top ten, but added that the Israeli performance had been good and thanked supporters for their strong show of affection.[3] She also said she was proud after hearing Eurovision fans describe her B6 high note as a possible contest record, and that she had worked hard on it.[3]

The contest’s reception was shaped by renewed Israel–Gaza fighting. Contemporary coverage reported social-media calls to boycott Israel during the semifinal period.[9] In Rotterdam, Ynet described a small pro-Palestinian protest of about ten people on the semifinal evening and a pro-Israel gathering the previous day; security around the Israeli delegation was increased during Operation Guardian of the Walls.[3]

The Jerusalem Post reported that some audience members waved Palestinian banners and flags and that protesters outside the venue opposed Israel’s participation, using the term “Apartheid” to describe Israel. It also reported social-media calls to redirect the meaning of “Set Me Free” toward Palestine.[10] These protests and political claims formed part of the contested public reception of Israel’s entry; they were separate from the contest’s voting result.

The semifinal also featured another Israeli musical connection: Russia’s “Russian Woman,” performed by Manizha, was written by Ori Avni and Ori Kaplan of the Israeli band Balkan Beat Box. The musicians met Manizha at a music festival in Israel and collaborated on the song, described as an anthem to Russian women’s resilience; Russia also advanced to the final.[9]

Post-contest coverage was cautious about assigning political causes to Israel’s result. Ynet noted the gap between Alene’s jury and public scores but said the possible influence of Operation Guardian of the Walls and European media coverage was difficult to quantify.[2] Coverage also presented the claim that Alene’s B6 note set a Eurovision record as an assessment circulated by fans rather than an independently established technical finding.[3]