TEL AVIV, Israel (CelebrityAccess) Netta Barzilai’s “Toy,” the hands-down favorite to win the Eurovision Song Contest, has done so, sending thousands of Israelis into the streets in celebration.
Fans flooded Tel Aviv’s Rabin Square in front of City Hall Sunday morning, with some even splashing in the fountain, according to the Associated Press. Barzilai and her techno dance song were announced the winner in Portugal as the City Hall spelled “Toy” in lights in Tel Aviv.
The win is Israel’s first since 1998 and fourth overall, according to AP. It means the country will host the next Eurovision Song Contest. One of Israel’s wins was for “Hallelujah” in the 1970s, which became the country’s unofficial national song.
Netta has been dubbed Israel’s “greatest ambassador” by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Izhar Cohen, who won Israel’s first Eurovision crown 40 years ago, added, “It’s a moment of joy that makes everybody together. It is consensus.”
