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Israel in Eurovision final for first time in five years

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Israel will be singing its heart out along with 26 other countries after qualifying for the 2015 Eurovision final for the first time in five years.

Representing his country on Saturday night is 16-year-old Nadav Guedj singing “Golden Boy”. His semi-final rendition was met with loud applause on Thursday night and is a favourite to make it into the top 10.

Speaking to Haaretz, Doron Medali who wrote Golden Boy said: "To hear the audience chant ‘Israel, Israel’ proves that [the perception that the world] hates Israel is nonsense. If you send out love to the world, the world returns the love."

Mr Guedj was chosen to represent Israel after winning the Israeli Channel 2 competition "Rising Star” song competition.

The final will take place in Vienna in honour of last year’s victory by Austrian transgender singer Conchita Wurst won last year’s contest with song Rise like a Phoenix.

Israel will compete in the final alongside Lithuania, Poland, Slovenia, Sweden, Norway, Montenegro, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, Latvia, England, Germany, Italy, Spain, Armenia, Albania, Russia, Romania, Hungary, Greece, Estonia, Georgia, Serbia, Belgium and Australia (who are competing on a one-off basis).

Watch Nadav Guedj singing “Golden Boy” in the semi-finals:

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