News - 1979 Eurovision winners locked in legal battle | Eurovision Song Contest News - 2009 Moscow, Russia 

After Milk and Honey had won for Israel in the 1979 Eurovision Song Contest (picture), a legal battle began between the lead vocalist and the producers, a battle that has raged on to this very day.

In 1978, Milk and Honey were founded by producer Shlomo Tzah and composer Kobi Oshrat. In 1979 the group won the Israeli Song Festival and afterwards the Eurovision Song Contest in Jerusalem, with Oshrat's Hallelujah. The group had success with the song, that also reached high positions in several European Charts. But in 1981, the lead vocalist, Gali Atari, sued Tzah for payments she claimed were being withheld from her. In 1994 an Israeli court ruled in favour of her and Tzah was then forced to pay her vast amounts of money. Now Tzah is suing Kobi Oshrat. He claims that Oshrat was a partner and should have paid his part of the compensation to Atari. After Atari left Milk and Honey in 1981, Lea Lupatin took her place and the group had a relative success in Israel. They went on to participate in several Israeli pre-selections, but never won. Gali Atari is the only original member of the group, who became a successful singer and a star. Another two group members accompanied Yardena Arazi on stage, at the 1988 Eurovision Song Contest, in Dublin.