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Harel Skaat behind the scenes
Photo: Giel Domen - EBU

Israel places 14th in 2010 Eurovision

Germany wins this year's European song contest in Oslo with punchy pop ballad 'Satellite' sung by 19-year-old Lena. Israel's Harel Skaat scores 71 points with 'Milim', says 'I am proud and thrilled over the representation and performance'

Israel's representative to the 2010 Eurovision Song Contest, "Milim" by Harel Skaat, reached the 14th place in Saturday evening's final in Oslo, Norway with 71 points.

 

This year's big winner was Germany with the punchy pop ballad "Satellite" sung by 19-year-old Lena, the second German to win the extravagant talent contest in its 55-year history.

 

Germany last won the contest in 1982 and as this year's winner, will host the show next year.


 

Lena of Germany. The big winner (Photo: Channel 1)

 

Turkey and Romania came in second and third out of the 25 countries in the final.

 

They had competed for points obtained by the popular vote and the marks given by specialist juries in all of the countries that took part in the contest.

 

Skaat told Ynet after the show, "I am proud and thrilled with over representation and performance. We brought artistic respect to Israel. It was a fun experience and I enjoyed every minute of it."

 

Israel received the highest score from Finland and Holland, which gave Skaat 10 points each. Slovakia gave him eight points.

 

Skaat and the song's writes could find some comfort in the fact that "Milim" won three awards handed out by the contest's creators, journalists and commentators. This was the first time in the history of the Eurovision that one country wins all three awards.


Skaat rehearsing ahead of Eurovision final (Photo: Reuters)

 

Skaat's performance was the 24th song of the evening. Before he got on stage, viewers got to see a map of Israel the 1967 borders, without the West Bank.

 

The decision to present the Israeli map was made after an appeal by Ynet, the Israeli delegation and the Foreign Ministry, which demanded explanations for the failure to present the map in the semi-final

 

One incident clouded the evening: One of the 16,000 spectators who had packed Oslo's Telenor Arena to watch the contest live managed to slip through security and onto the stage during Spain's performance.

 

Some in Spain identified the intruder as Jaume Marquet Cot, better known as "Jimmy Jump," a real estate agent from the separatist-minded region of Catalonia who is known for pitch invasions of several major sporting events.

 

They accused him of trying to ruin Daniel Diges' chances of winning Eurovision with "Algo Pequenito."

 

Or Barnea and AFP contributed to this report

 


פרסום ראשון: 05.30.10, 08:33
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