Netta Barzilai performs at Eurovision 2018. Image by JACK GUEZ/Getty Images

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, and not the government of Israel, will conduct negotiations with officials from the Eurovision song contest.

The decision was announced Sunday by the Ministry of Communications, following a meeting between Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation CEO Eldad Koblenz and Communications Ministry Director General Nati Cohen.

The Israeli business daily Globes reported on Monday that the total cost to Israel of hosting Eurovision will run between $41 million and $53 million.

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The Israeli officials reportedly will present four cities as possible hosts for the contest, identified in local reports as Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and Eilat. The cities will have to submit detailed bids in order to be considered.

Israel won the right to host the 2019 Eurovision after singer Netta Barzilai won last month’s competition with the song “Toy.” At the time of her victory, Barzilai proclaimed that the competition would be held in Jerusalem, which was echoed by Israel’s Culture and Sports Minister Miri Regev.

Contact Alyssa Fisher at [email protected] or on Twitter, @alyssalfisher

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