All I know is that 30 YEARS ago, Israel was asked NOT to submit an entry to the Eurovision Song Festival, because they always won, with songs like “Hallelujah, La Olam) (Praise G-d in Everything). After winning three years in a row, they were told to “give someone else a chance”.
At least that was the story the Israelis told me back in 1984.
To date there have been three Israeli victories in the contest. Izhar Cohen and Alphabeta won in Paris in 1978 with the uptempo A-Ba-Ni-Bi.
On home ground in Jerusalem the following year, Israel won again, this time with the anthemic Hallelujah performed by Gali Atari & Milk and Honey. For reasons that still escaped me, Israel did not defend the title in 1980.
The third victory came almost 20 years later in Birmingham, UK in 1998. Singer Dana International took top honors with the song Diva, setting off widespread celebrations in Israel.