Netta’s Eurovision win presents Israel as we want to see it

Published: 14 May 2018

Last updated: 5 March 2024

USUALLY, WHEN ISRAELIS of all political stripes are huddled in their homes after midnight glued to the television, clutching each other in nervous anticipation, it isn’t for a good reason.

But on Saturday night, the tense excitement didn’t stem from fear of incoming missiles or a devastating terrorist attack - it was all positive energy, as the country united in their fervent hope that a spunky 25-year-old singer named Netta Barzilai would triumph in the Eurovision Song Contest with Toy, her catchy anthem of empowerment punctuated by chicken-clucking and traditional Middle Eastern whoops of celebration.

FULL STORY Israel’s Eurovision win: When Netanyahu, anti-BDS Activists and #Metoo all do the chicken dance (Haaretz)

Eurovision 2018: Don’t ‘toy’ around with our ‘kapara’ (Jerusalem Post)
In Israel, Kapara Alayich is slang for “We love you,” or “What a sweetheart” but etymologically Kapara is a word that comes from the holiest day in the Jewish calendar - Yom Kippur

Photo: Netta celebrates after winning the Eurovision Song Contest in Lisbon ((AFP/Francisco Leong)