After a 2.5 hour showcase of the best vocal talents that Israel has to offer, the winner of “The Next Star for Eurovision” was chosen tonight.
Imri Ziv, who has attended the Eurovision Song Contest in both 2015 and 2016 as a backing singer for the Israeli acts, beat out Beatbox Element in the first round sing off covering Beyonce’s “Halo,” then beat Julieta and Diana Gold during the final “Duel of Three” with an emotional cover of Kelly Clarkson’s “Because of You” – highly favoured by both telelvoters and the judging panel alike. This year’s “Rising Star” judging panel consisted of 2010 Eurovision entrant Harel Skaat, Keren Peles, Asaf Adurmsky and duo Statis and Ben-El Tavori.
Israel still have time to chose their final song for the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be performed in the second half of the Second Semi Final, airing on the 11th of May 2017 in Kiev.
