Israel And Azerbaijan: How They Qualify For Eurovision

Israel and Azerbaijan are two of the several countries from outside Europe that compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. Israel first became eligible for Eurovision in 1957 after becoming part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and made its debut in 1973. Azerbaijan joined the contest in 2008, making it the last country in the Caucasus to do so. Both countries have won the contest at least once. Israel has won four times, while Azerbaijan won in 2011 with the song Running Scared by Ell and Nikki.

Israel is in Eurovision because the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)

Israel has been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973 and has won four times. However, the country is located in Asia, not Europe. So, why is Israel in Eurovision?

Israel is allowed to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest because the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) is part of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU is a union of public broadcasters that organises the event. According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the "European Broadcasting Area" includes not only Europe but also parts of the Middle East and North Africa. Israel has always been within this broadcasting area, which allowed the IBA to join the EBU in 1957.

In order to be eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest, a country must have a public broadcaster that is part of the EBU. This is why Israel, despite being geographically located in Asia, is able to compete in Eurovision. After the IBA was shut down in 2017, KAN took over the organisation of Israel's participation in the contest and was granted full EBU membership in December 2018.

It is worth noting that Israel is not the only competitor from outside of Europe. Australia joined the line-up in 2015, Azerbaijan (which is partially in Europe) has participated since 2008, and Morocco has competed in the past. Additionally, Tunisia and Lebanon have both been considered for a place in the contest as well.

Azerbaijan is eligible to participate in Eurovision as it is a core member of the EBU

Azerbaijan is eligible to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest as it is a core member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The EBU is the organiser of the Eurovision Song Contest, and membership is a prerequisite for participation.

Azerbaijan's participation in the contest is subject to some controversy, as the country is not technically located in Europe. However, the EBU's definition of the "European Broadcasting Area" includes Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Iraq, Jordan, Syria, Turkey, and Ukraine that lie outside the area's boundaries. These countries were allowed into the EBU in 2007, and Azerbaijan made its debut in the contest in 2008.

Azerbaijan's participation in the contest has been highly successful, with the country winning in 2011 with the song "Running Scared" performed by Ell and Nikki. The country has also consistently placed in the top 10 since its debut, with the exception of 2014, and the contest has become a matter of national pride.

The EBU's inclusion of countries outside of Europe in its broadcasting area allows for a diverse range of participants in the Eurovision Song Contest, adding to the excitement and cultural exchange that the competition fosters.

Israel and Azerbaijan are not geographically in Europe but are in the EBU's European Broadcasting Area

Israel and Azerbaijan are not geographically in Europe but are in the European Broadcasting Union's (EBU) European Broadcasting Area. This means that their public broadcasters are eligible for EBU membership, which is the sole requirement for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest.

The European Broadcasting Area is defined by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) and includes "Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia and those parts of the territories of Iraq, Jordan, [and the] Syrian Arab Republic [...] lying outside the [western boundary of Region 1, the meridian 40° East of Greenwich, and the parallel 30° North]." The borders of the European Broadcasting Area have changed over time, with Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia being allowed in during a revision in 2007.

Israel has been a member of the EBU since 1957 when its former national broadcaster, the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA), joined. Azerbaijan's broadcaster, İctimai Televiziya (İTV), became a full EBU member in 2007.

In addition to Israel and Azerbaijan, other countries outside of Europe that have participated in Eurovision include Australia, Morocco, and Tunisia.

Israel has competed in Eurovision since 1973 and has won four times

Israel has a long history of participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, having joined for the first time in 1973. The country has since taken part in the competition 46 times, winning four times.

Israel's debut in the contest in 1973 was a success, with Ilanit's song "Ey Sham" finishing fourth. The country went on to achieve its first victory in 1978 with "A-Ba-Ni-Bi", performed by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta. The following year, in 1979, Israel won again with the song "Hallelujah", performed by Milk and Honey. This win was particularly notable as it took place on home ground in Jerusalem. However, due to financial reasons and a conflict with the date of the Israeli Memorial Day, Israel did not participate in the 1980 contest, marking the only instance of a winning country not competing the following year.

Israel's third victory came almost two decades later in 1998, with "Diva" performed by Dana International. This was followed by another long gap before their fourth win in 2018, with "Toy" by Netta, which earned Israel its highest-ever score of 529 points.

Israel's participation in Eurovision has not been without controversy. The country's involvement has been criticised by those who oppose its government policies, particularly regarding the treatment of Palestinians. There have been calls for a boycott of the contest in Israel, including from proponents of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. On the other hand, others have argued that cultural engagement can promote peace in the region.

Despite the controversies, Israel has consistently been a strong contender in Eurovision, with a record for the most participations and wins without ever coming last. The country's involvement in the contest has also sparked discussions about the definition of "Europe" and the eligibility of countries that are not technically within the continent's borders.

Azerbaijan has participated in Eurovision 16 times since 2008 and won in 2011

Azerbaijan made its debut in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2008, participating 16 times since then. The country is known as the "Land of Fire" and is home to the world's first oil well, drilled in the mid-1800s. Azerbaijan's first entry in 2008, "Day After Day" by Elnur and Samir, placed 8th with 132 points. The country's debut proved to be successful, sparking a series of triumphs in the following years.

In 2009, Azerbaijan improved on their debut, achieving third place with 207 points with the song "Always" by Aysel and Arash. This was followed by a fifth-place finish in 2010, and then a win in 2011 with "Running Scared" performed by Ell and Nikki. Azerbaijan's 2011 victory set the record for the lowest average score for a winning song under the 12-points voting system, with 5.26 points per country.

Azerbaijan continued its successful streak in the contest, achieving five consecutive top-five results between 2009 and 2013. The country placed third in 2009, fifth in 2010, first in 2011, fourth in 2012 with "When the Music Dies" by Sabina Babayeva, and second in 2013 with "Hold Me" by Farid Mammadov. Azerbaijan's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest has become a matter of "national pride", with the competition consistently being the most-watched show on Azerbaijani television since 2009.

However, in 2014, Azerbaijan failed to place in the top ten for the first time, finishing 22nd, which was the country's lowest result in a Eurovision final to date. Since then, Azerbaijan has had mixed results, with several placements outside the top ten. In 2018, the country failed to qualify for the final for the first time, and this occurred again in 2023 and 2024. Despite these setbacks, Azerbaijan returned to the top ten in 2019, finishing eighth with "Truth" by Chingiz.

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