Israeli leading news websites Ynet.co.il and NRG.co.il report today that the IBA Eurovision committee has decided to propose the singers Noa and Mira Awad to represent the country in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. IBA has confirmed the news to esctoday.com. Awad, being an Arab-Israeli, will be the first one of her community to represent Israel in the song contest.

According to this report, Noa (Known in Israel by her given name Achinoam Nini) and Mira Awad were chosen by IBA, only after the first candidate Marina Maximillian-Blumin had withdrawn from the race. The Israeli Atrists Union represntative, who was a member of the jury, commented to Ynet.co.il: "I appreciate Marina as an artist and hope we will see her on the Eurovision Song contest's stage in future. Noa is currently the most successful Israeli artist abroad, and I am confident they will make us proud".

It seems that Noa was first selected this morning on her own to represent Israel in Eurovision, and then conditioned her participation in performing in a duet with her friend, Arab-Israeli singer, Mira Awad.

Mira Awad is an acomplished singer and actress. Awad participated in the 2005 Kdam-Eurovision with the song "Zman" and played the role of Liza Doolitlle in the local production of "My Fair Lady".

Noa is Israel's leading international concert and recording artist. Born in Tel- Aviv in 1969, Noa lived in New York from age 2 until her return to Israel alone at the age of 17. Her family is originally from Yemen (such as previous Israeli entrants). Noa has toured and sang with rock superstar Sting, performed her song "Child of man" with Stevie Wonder for a CBS TV special in the US, and shared the stage and microphone with many great artists, including Carlos Santana, Sheryl Crow, George Benson, Jhonny Clegg, Zucherro, Peter Maffay, Pino Daniele, Rita Marcotulli, Massimo Ranieri, Carlo Fava, Florent Pagny, Jean Jaques Goldman, Joan Manuel Serrat, Miguel Bose, Eric Serra, Pascal Obispoe, Patrique Bruel, Mike Manieri, Al Dimeola and more.

If, for any reason, Noa and Mira Awad will not represent Israel in Moscow, their runner-ups will be the "Nehama Girls" trio. IBA's original plans are to hold a televised national final, where Noa and Mira will present3 songs, from which the public and a jury will select the song for Israel in the 2009 Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow. Bellow are 2 songs of Noa, one of Mira Awad and a duet of them both, including an interview about the situation in the region (not taken lately).

Noa's "Life is beautiful" from Roberto Benigni's motion picture of the same name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RD2xLHgsx00

Noa's "Keren Or" (Ray of light)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR64KevNXY0

Mira Awad's "Zman" from Kdam Eurovision 2005
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAc5o6Kce-4

Awad and Noa speaking and singing "We can work it out"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn12wcZaZF8