56	57	58	59
60	61	62	63	64	65	66	67	68	69
70	71	72	73	74	75	76	77	78	79
80	81	82	83	84	85	86	87	88	89
90	91	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99
00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09
10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19
20	21

Israel are, notoriously, the most prolific of the extra-European nations taking part in the contest. Whatever you may think of their approach to regional politics, as far as Eurovision is concerned Israel are great. They arrived in 1973 under armed guard, and quickly hit their stride. Only three years later they hit upon the classic formula: a white-clad line-up with perfect choreography and a catchy tune. It is testament to the success of this formula that we find ourselves regularly agreeing with the European voters on the qualities of the Israeli entries (a rarity indeed), and every one of their wins is represented in our list. Israel are to be particularly thanked for making the late '80s bearable. There was a period at the start of the century where they seemed to have lost their way a little: their magic formula no-longer functioned, and they were left struggling in semi-final obscurity. Their win in 2018 finally kicked this period into touch. But the Israeli golden period was 1978-1999, every year of which (with the exception of those years when they did not field an entry) our jury awarded points to Israel: a staggering 17-year consistent run of form (the closest competitors to this achievement are Germany and the Netherlands who both managed comparatively paltry nine-year runs in the very early days). Of course, most of that form was in the largely tedious '80s and '90s, but it is testament to Israel's consistency nonetheless.

	1pt	1977	AV: unplaced Eur: 11th
	Ilanit - "Ahava Hi Shir Lishnayim" (אהבה היא שיר לשניים)
	It's "Ferry Cross the Mersey" given a power-ballad face-lift, and it's much better for it.
	2pts	2018	AV: 2nd Eur: 1st
	Netta - "Toy"
	Israel had been hard at the Moldovan springwater in 2018: Netta, like a Homogenic Björk dressed for an evening jog. She popped "Seven Nation Army" in the blender with Wang Rong Rollin's "Chick Chick" to make a delightfully silly soup. It's a willfully wacky song (it's got a chicken dance in it after all), and its victory is telling. Last year's winner would not approve, which is probably all to the good. That it could bag Israel a win at a time when politically speaking they were by no means everyone's favourite country is credit to the sheer infectious joy of it.
	3pts	1986	AV: 1st Eur: 19th
	Moti Giladi & Sarai Tzuriel - "Yavo Yom" (יבוא יום)
	A rather glitzy duet with something of the Treasure Hunt about it. It was our winner in 1986 because it was the only entry that tried, but that is to damn it with faint praise. Like most Israeli entries, it's good fun and expertly done.
	4pts	1998	AV: 1st Eur: 1st
	Dana International - "Diva" (דיווה)
	1998 was another one of those very rare occasions when we found ourselves in agreement with Europe as to who the winner should be. In this case the unanimity fell (and not for the first time) upon Israel and the delightfully diva-ish Dana International. Hers is a pounding club number: a pleasing bit of pop-dance with a memorable chorus. We note how the larger backing vocalist is kept separate from her thinner roaming counterparts, while enjoying Dana's pleasing impersonation of a stag during the final chorus.
	5pts	1976	AV: 5th Eur: 6th
	Shokolad Menta Mastik - "Emor Shalom" (אמור שלום)
	In 1976, Israel finally learnt the formula that would get us voting for them year after year after year. The enticingly named Shokolad Menta Mastik are a female trio in white trouser-suits, performing a slinky cabaret number with ethnic overtones. A great piece that knows precisely what it's doing and does it a lot; it is impossible to hear this and to not sway along.
	6pts	1982	AV: 3rd Eur: 2nd
	Avi Toledano - "Hora" (הורה)
	A cracking routine and a song that sounds a bit like a dry run for 1983's entry. It's a good, tight, up-beat song, with some nice fiddle playing, a clappy section and a general Jewish folk-music thing going on underneath.
	7pts	1978	AV: 4th Eur: 1st
	Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta - "A-Ba-Ni-Bi" (א-ב-ני-בי)
	Israel, having now worked out the trick, got a lot of people together, dressed them in white and had them move about the stage in synchronization while singing a groovy tune with a good chorus and some melancholic Hebrew tinges. It won them their first contest victory.
	8pts	1979	AV: 8th Eur: 1st
	Gali Atari and Milk and Honey - "Hallelujah" (הללויה)
	An undisputed Eurovision classic, "Hallelujah" is a sort of "Mack the Knesset" verse constantly repeated. But, in a fine music-hall skit, each verse adds another vocalist. Alas they stop at four, perhaps for budgetary reasons more than a lack of time. Still, it's a nice idea and a decent song that mounts up well. It also gave Israel two Eurovision wins in a row.
	10pts	1987	AV: 1st Eur: 8th
	Datner & Kushnir - "Shir Habatlanim" (שיר הבטלנים)
	No white outfits and slick dance routines this year. Oh no. In a brave move Israel tried something different... very different. And it could all too easily have gone terribly terribly wrong. Datner & Kushnir are a sort of Jewish Blues Brothers. Their song, "Shir Habatlanim", begins rather delicately with some polite chamber orchestration. Then the chorus arrives. It bears some resemblance to the "Hokey-Cokey", if the "Hokey-Cokey" were about hula-hoops. The second verse is decidedly more "Carry-On", and the duo become increasingly animated (and excellently choreographed). You could try to join in with the finger actions, but it's harder than it looks. In summary, a risky choice, but one that paid off excellently because it's one of the greatest Israeli entries ever.
	12pts	1983	AV: 3rd Eur: 2nd
	Ofra Haza - "Khay" (חי)
	Faintly reminiscent of Siw Malmkvist's "Primaballerina" from 1969, but with all the good bits of an Israeli entry thrown in. A very "Jesus Christ Superstar" introduction gives way to a thoroughly enjoyable and eminently interactive number (anyone can join in with the "Khay khay khay"-ing of the chorus). Great stuff.