Israelis thrilled with fourth win of song contest

ISRAEL revelled in its victory at the Eurovision Song Contest yesterday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu briefly breaking out in a chicken dance in tribute and social media abuzz.

Netta Barzilai beat 25 other contestants with her up-tempo song Toy, whose lyrics were inspired by the #MeToo movement.

The winning track, which contained refrains such as “I am not your toy, you stupid boy”, summed up the concerns of many women who have adopted the growing global movement against sexual harassment.

The 25-year-old, who wore a multicoloured kimono, accompanied her winning performance with trills, clucking sounds and chicken-like dance moves in an eye-catching and bizarre performance that is often typical of the Eurovision contest.

Crowds broke out in song in Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square, with many jumping in the fountain there, as well as at Jerusalem’s main open-air market to celebrate the victory.

Video footage of Netanyahu’s brief chicken dance was being shared on social media, while the prime minister also spoke of Barzilai’s victory at the start of his weekly cabinet meeting.

He replaced the Hebrew phrase for good morning, boker tov, with boker toy in reference to the winning song.

Yesterday also marked Jerusalem Day for Israel, the annual celebration of what Israelis call the reunification of the disputed city after the 1967 Six-Day War. Israel has now won Eurovision four times. The last was in 1998, with Diva by transgender performer Dana International. – Facebook/AFP