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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
Entertainment
Kate McMullin

Why is Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 when it's not in Europe?

Israel is not in Europe, but since 1973 the country has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest.

This year the Eurovision Song Contest is being held in Liverpool at the M&S Bank Arena, with the final taking place on May 13, 2023.

Many people think Eurovision rules mean only countries in Europe are allowed to take part in the contest - but that is not the case.

READ MORE: Why Australia is in the Eurovision Song Contest 2023?

So why is it that Israel is allowed to compete in the contest?

Israel has taken part in the Eurovision Song Contest every year since 1973 as the country has been represented by a national broadcaster which is part of the European Broadcasting Union since 1957.

The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) was a member of the EBU from 1957 up until 2017, at which point the IBA was replaced as Israel's public broadcaster by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC). The IPBC is currently a member of the EBU, which allows Israel to continue to compete in Eurovision.

Israel has won the contest four times, and has hosted the contest in Jerusalem twice in 1979 and 1999. Israel hosted the contest for the third time in Tel Aviv in 2019.

This year Israel’s entry Noa Kirel advanced to the grand final of the 2023 Eurovision in Liverpool following her performance of 'Unicorn' in the contest’s first semi-final.

Other non-European members of the EBU include Armenia, Cyprus and Australia – all of which are competing in Eurovision 2023.

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