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This article was published in "Rating", an Israeli, local version of T.V. Guide, on 31.05.2000, issue number 50.
"Everybody loves Eden", by Eran Eisenhendler
It will happen at the end of the Summer.
Eden Harel will finish her contract with MTV Europe, say goodbye nicely to all the presenters, producers, cameramen and the rest of the crew that worked with her closely, for six years, and she will go on conquering another top. For the time being, it is still unclear whether she'll be doing it in Europe or at home. What is clear however, is that at this moment she is negotiating with all kinds of TV networks from Europe and the US. Go figure whatever you want?
Even though Eden refused to interview for this piece, her friends (of which she's got plenty) say that she made the right decision when she realized she exhausted her capabilities at MTV, that she reached a certain peak and now she'll try to reach other peaks.
Yahli Sobol, a close friend (a local rock singer, O) also says it's possible that Eden, who loves music very much, might try to make music.
A thing that could be very interesting. This path is quite common among past MTV presenters. They either were musicians prior to MTV ? Paul King, or they're on the way of becoming one ? ex-VJ Simone. Generally, it is recommended to consider the fact that even though working at MTV might seem, from our little country, like the height of the career. Once one reaches that, one realizes it's just a stop on the road. It's a comfy springboard but definitely not the final destination. The presenters are young, ambitious people with big dreams and after several years it's natural they want to move on.
In spite of that, at MTV it seems that people find it hard to get used to the idea of Eden leaving. At the station they wanted her to stay longer, Eden decided she had enough.
Lisa Marie, a production coordinator at MTV praises Eden and tells of a brave friendship between Eden and the people at the station: "Eden is amazing, we know she is very much loved in Israel. She's very popular in Europe, especially in France and Belgium. She decided to leave and we're very disappointed, but we want her to keep on doing fantastic things. We're very proud of her. It's too early to tell whether we'll be looking for a new presenter from Israel yet because Eden will be with us for several months throughout the summer, but we'll see later. Eden is brilliant, she's very courteous. She's got a big heart, she's very nice and easy to work with. We consider her as a friend and the relations between us are very personal. All the staff at the station has a very good connection with her. She talks a lot about Israel and when I planned to visit Israel, she sat with me and told me about the sites and the history of Israel. She's got a great deal of knowledge about Israel."
Q: How did you take her decision to leave?
"It's not easy for us and we're disappointed that she's leaving, but we're also happy for her. She want to move foreword, which is probably good for her. I really don't know what she's going to do now. She didn't tell us about her plans."
Q: Is it possible she will move to another European music station?
"No, I don't think she'd do that. MTV is the biggest TV network broadcasting music in Europe and Eden was with us for a long time as well, so I presume she won't be moving to a different station. But I really don't know what she's going to do."
Eden's closest friend is Alma Harel and she's an ex-model. (She was a VJ in Israel and she's not related to Eden, O) "We're not sisters", Alma stresses, "But we're very very good friends. We actually knew each other at 'Allanby 58' (Leading club in Israel, now on the verge of closing, O), but the first time I saw her was at an audition for a fashion show by Gaultier in Israel, we did later. The first time I actually talked to her was at 'Allanby 58'. We were both bartenders there. (According to Ori Shtark, the club's owner, Allanby58 was the first place that had girls as bartenders, O) Later we shared a flat on Florentene. (Once a cheap and later hip neighborhood in Tel Aviv, O)
***** THE SECOND PART OF THE ARTICLE BEGINS HERE !!! *****
We loved the same things and that connected us. We were 18 years old at the time, we had similar background, life style and dreams. We had the same occupation same life style and we laughed a lot together. Later we had a long period in London when Eden was working at MTV and I studied there and since then we're together until now. When we lived in London, I made all the phone calls to Israel, on the MTV expense. I would arrive to the station to see Eden and there I made long phone calls to my family. We kept in touch all that period. She's one of the most beautiful women in the world, she's got money and she's talented".
Q; What do you think of her leaving MTV?
"I'm very proud of her. I'm proud of her decision. Eden is a champion of making the right decisions and it has always been that way. Besides, she always did well in life. She want's to do different things that interest her and not to remain in one place Even though she's promised good salary and kisses on the neck from Bono".
Q: Have you got any idea of what she's going to do?
"I know that at the moment she's negotiating with TV channels from London and the US who want to hire her wonderful services, but maybe she'll decide to give it all up and return home".
Q: Did presenting on MTV make her rich?
"She has a home in London, she's got a car. I think she's well off. She doesn't have any financial worries".
Eden Harel, only 24, was born in Eilat as Adva Harel, grew up in Holon, Bat-Yam, Givataim, Ramat-Gan, Haifa and Hadassim boarding school, she entered the school at the age of 11 and decided to leave at the end of the 10th grade, when she felt she exhausted the school episode of her life.
Her father left home when she was a year old and her relationship with him is pretty weak.
Aged 18, she moved to Tel-Aviv with the distinct decision to "conquer" it. Chelli Goldenberg (A famous model and actress in the 80's, O) recommended her to try modeling, Eden took that advice and was accepted to the Sarit Damir agency (Modeling agency known for its "exotic" looking girls. O). She also managed to work as a bar tender at the Allanby 58 club from the moment it opened. She modeled here and there and at a certain stage she went to the MTV auditions in Israel, made a big impression on the testers and within 6 months she was on her way to a very impressive career in London.
At MTV, she presented different shows and went on their behalf to host big events in Europe, among them she hosted the reunion gig of the legendary band Kiss, in Germany. She returned from there terrified due to anti semitic expressions, when 500 skin heads stood in front of the stage and shouted at her "Auchwitz Auchwitz".
Reuven Cohen, 34 years old artist and a friend: "Truth is Eden was discovered by model Orit Berkovich. I first heard of her from Orit. She was a top model in the 90's and she fell for Eden. Orit took Eden to the S.D agency. One day Orit told me about her and said she's very charming and that she cultivates her. Orit actually taught her how to put on make-up and how to walk. I knew her through Orit and we became friends. She also started to tend the bar at Allanby 58. She was 19 years old. Little by little she became famous in the local night-life scene. We were good friends with Eden, Alma Harel, Oriana (model and bartender,O) and Ori Shtark(the club owner, O). We all lived on Matalon St. in Tel-Aviv in the same building. One day she went to the MTV audition and succeeded. I remember that all the girls went to that audition, Alma and Oriana too and there were all kinds of musicians and TV presenters. No one thought that Eden would get it since she had no musical background besides partying and dancing. Alma knew a lot more on the subject. But Eden got it eventually. I think she got it because she has a lot of grace. Her face is very expressive and there's something pleasant that comes from inside. She went with it all the way and she's very energetic. She also looked very Israeli. Alma, for instance, can be taken for an English, Danish or Dutch gir, but Eden looks Israeli".
Q: When did Eden leave the building?
"She got the contract and after 6 months she left to London. She also lived with her boyfriend, Alon, who was one of Allanby's managers. He lives today in NY but they were 2 years together. They moved to London together and their 1st year was very hard. Eden was missing home all the time. Today she belongs there completely".
Q: Did you keep in touch along the London period?
"The truth is that during the first year and a half we were in touch. We still see each other when she arrives here. She keeps in touch with Alma. They're best friends and love each other".
Q: Can you guess why she decided to quit MTV?
"She's been there for 6 years now, her contract was renewed twice and that job is obviously wearing out. MTV are looking for new faces too and she also wants to reach new places. At a certain point, the viewer wants to see someone else. What she's gonna do? She takes acting lessons, she's learning lots of things. The girl has a strong head on her shoulders and she will do something with herself. It's logical she'll turn to acting. Look, Eden is very perceptive, she understands well what happens around her, very sensitive to the environment. I love her very much. She's adorable. Very simple, fun to be with".
Ori Shtark: "I know Eden for 7 years now. She was a friend of my girlfriend. That was before Allanby. She's an amazing and adorable person, very charismatic, I love her very much. She worked in my club since it opened. After more that a year she left because of MTV and we were in touch all the time".
Q: Did she consult you about leaving MTV?
"No, she's a big girl and she doesn't need my advice. Her choices were always the best, and I'm sure this one is good too. I have no idea if it's right for her to leave MTV, but her decision, if she made it, is definitely right. I think she's a cool and groovy person and I hope she'll succeed".
Yahli Sobol, singer, knew Eden through his ex-girlfriend Alma Harel. Eden also appears in a video of Yahli's band "Monica Sex". (She is seen from a distance, jumping and "playing" guitar, O.) Sobol: "I know Eden for about 5 years, since she agreed to do the Monica Sex video. I met her once before the shoot and at the shoot we really knew each other. I asked Alma to bring for the video girls who can dance and they were roommates at the time so it was natural she'd come. I was glad she came and we've been good friends ever since. I love her a lot and appreciate her, and I'm sure she'll be doing lots of excellent things. We kept in touch all these years, and when Alma and I lived in London we were in good relations and we had fun hanging out with her and party together. She actually helped us a lot in London. We arrived and she has already been there for several years so she helped us with everything we needed".
Q: Are you in touch today?
"Yes, when she comes here, we all meet. It's natural for us to keep in touch, we're good friends. I'm sure she made the right choice when she decided to leave MTV, since her decisions are usually right and not hasty. I think she exhausted herself there,
she virtually reached the top and was the most popular and the best presenter, and when you reach that point you look for new challenges".
Q: What do you think she'll be doing now?
"I know she's interested in music. I'm 100 percent sure that if she decides that's what she'll do, she will do beautiful and interesting things. If she will get into making music, it will definitely be good because when she does something, she works hard till the end".
Q: Could there be a musical cooperation between you two?
"It could possibly be sometime. First of all because we're good friends. I'll always be glad to participate in whatever Eden does".