It is 44 years since Gali Atari brought joy to Israel by winning the Eurovision Song Contest with Milk and Honey’s anthemic entry Hallelujah.

Now Atari is coming to London to perform at an event to raise awareness and much needed funds for another source of Israeli pride — the Israel Institute of Technology, the Technion.

On May 14, Technion UK is staging “From Israel with Love”, a celebration of the nation’s 75th anniversary, and Atari will be joined on the bill in central London by a cast of Israeli and British performers and presenters including Nick Ferrari and Baroness Deech.

“I am looking forward to singing Hallelujah and other special songs at the event,” she said — “and also to coming back to London, the capital of music, where I experienced the most exciting post-Eurovision performances.”

Interviewed by the JC in Tel Aviv, Atari recalled that after the song contest victory in 1979, the band toured Europe for a year. Hallelujah made it to number five in the UK charts and she has vivid memories of appearing on Top of the Pops.

“Tony Blackburn was the presenter and other performers included Blondie, the Sex Pistols, Cliff Richard and Gloria Gaynor.

“It was unbelievably exciting and we were treated like stars.”

Still touring and recording, one of the songs she will perform in London will be Ein Li Eretz Acheret (I Have No Other Country). A longstanding staple of her repertoire, it resonates strongly with Israelis with lyrics including “I don’t have another country, even if my land is aflame”.

“It is a great honour that the song touches so many. Like many other songs, it has a life of its own and it has clearly become relevant for all of us in Israel, whoever we are and whatever our political opinions.”

Atari has a family connection to the Technion, her brother, Dr Joseph Atari, having studied there for his PhD in electrical engineering.

He is now “a consultant for Israel’s air force industry. So while the Technion brings Israel pride, I am also personally proud of my brother’s achievements and am happy to take part in an event that supports the Technion.

“I can’t wait to sing and celebrate with the audience in London and I do hope that people will sing along with me — and that together we can sing Hallelujah to the world, to Israel and to the Technion.”

technionuk.org/event/israel75