Israel has middling finish in Eurovision contest

Israel placed 14th in the Eurovision Song Contest on May 29 in Oslo, Norway. Israeli singer Harel Skaat earned 71 points for his emotional performance of the song “Milim” (“Words”) during the evening event.

German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut won the competition with 246 points. Turkey came in second with 170 points and Romania garnered 162 points to take third. Twenty-five countries participated in the final.

Skaat was the runner-up in Israel’s second season of “A Star is Born,” Israel’s version of “American Idol.”

Before each performance, a map of the country flashed on the screen. Israel’s map in the finals appeared within the pre-1967 borders, without the West Bank, and in the semifinals, Israel was the only country that did not have a map.

Next year’s annual Eurovision contest will be held in Germany. – jta