Izhar Cohen, born Yizhar Cohen on March 13, 1951, in Tel Aviv, Israel, and raised in Givʿatajim, is a singer known for his contributions to Middle of the Road and pop music. Cohen's breakthrough came when he participated in the Israeli pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest in 1978 with his background group The Alphabeta. Their song “A-Ba-Ni-Bi” won the contest, earning them the right to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest in Paris. There, Cohen and The Alphabeta secured a historic victory with 157 points, making Israel the first non-European country to win the competition. The song became an international success, charting in several European countries. Following this success, Cohen released several albums including Hidden Dreams (1976) and Make A Little Love (1978). He returned to the Eurovision Song Contest in 1985 with “Olé Olé”, finishing fifth. Throughout his career, Cohen has continued to perform and release music, including albums such as HaMavtiḥa (1985). In addition to his musical endeavors, Cohen has also established himself as a jewellery designer.
