Israel was represented at the qualifying round for the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Shalom Olam" (שלום עולם), written by Eyal Madan and Doran Vitenberg, and performed by Galit Bell. The Israeli participating broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), selected its entry through Kdam Eurovision 1996. The entry failed to make it through the pre-selection round.
Before Eurovision
Kdam Eurovision 1996
The Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) held the national final on 29 February 1996 at the Neve Ilan TV Studios in Jerusalem, hosted by Ron Leventhal and Tal Man. Twelve entries competed and the winner, "Shalom Olam" performed by Galit Bell, was selected by the votes of seven regional juries.[1]
In 1996, for the only time in Eurovision history, an audio-only pre-qualifying round (from which hosts Norway were exempt) was held on 20 March as 29 countries wished to participate in the final but the European Broadcasting Union had set a limit of 22 (plus Norway). The countries occupying the bottom seven places after the pre-qualifier would be unable to take part in the main contest.[2] After the voting, "Shalom Olam" had received 12 points, placing 28th and bringing Israel's participation in 1996 to a premature end.[3]
^Roxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. pp. 255–261. ISBN978-1-84583-163-9.
^ abRoxburgh, Gordon (2020). Songs for Europe: The United Kingdom at the Eurovision Song Contest. Volume Four: The 1990s. Prestatyn: Telos Publishing. p. 259. ISBN978-1-84583-163-9.
