Eurovision Song Contest 1979 — 24th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
The 1979 Eurovision Song Contest was the first edition held outside Europe, with Israel hosting after its consecutive 1978 victory.
Key Facts
- Edition
- 24th Eurovision Song Contest
- Date
- 31 March 1979
- Winning song
- "Hallelujah" by Milk and Honey feat. Gali Atari
- Participating countries
- 19
- Consecutive wins for Israel
- 2 (1978 and 1979)
- First time held outside Europe
- Yes — held in Jerusalem, Israel
By the Numbers
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
Israel's victory at the 1978 Eurovision Song Contest with 'A-Ba-Ni-Bi' by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta obligated the Israel Broadcasting Authority to host the following year's contest. This marked the first occasion the event would be staged outside of Europe, raising political tensions that led Turkey to withdraw under pressure from Arab nations.
The 24th Eurovision Song Contest was held on 31 March 1979 at the International Convention Centre in Jerusalem, hosted by Daniel Pe'er and Yardena Arazi. Nineteen countries competed, with Israel winning for the second consecutive year via the song 'Hallelujah', composed by Kobi Oshrat, written by Shimrit Orr, and performed by Milk and Honey featuring Gali Atari.
Israel became only the third country to win Eurovision in consecutive years. Turkey's absence due to Arab political pressure and Yugoslavia's politically motivated non-participation highlighted how the contest's geographic expansion beyond Europe introduced new geopolitical complications into what had been primarily a European broadcasting competition.
Work
Eurovision Song Contest 1979 — Winner: "Hallelujah"
The contest was the first Eurovision held outside Europe, reflecting the event's growing international scope, while Israel's back-to-back victories underscored the contest's increasingly competitive and politically charged nature.