Israel Unveils Eurovision 2025 Song ‘New Day Will Rise’ by Yuval Raphael

Israel’s entry for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest has been officially revealed as "New Day Will Rise," performed by rising star Yuval Raphael. The song, which will be sung in English, Hebrew, and French, was announced by Israel’s public broadcaster Kan 11 on Monday.

Raphael, 24, won Israel’s "HaKochav Haba" ("Rising Star") singing competition in January, earning her place as the country’s Eurovision representative. A native of Ra’anana, she spent part of her childhood in Switzerland and speaks fluent French, making her a fitting choice to compete in Basel, where this year’s contest will take place in May.

The song's lyrics and melody were penned by renowned Israeli songwriter Keren Peles, with production by Tomer Biran and French translation by Tamir Hitman. Kan 11 will debut the full track in a special broadcast on Sunday.

Beyond her musical talent, Raphael carries a harrowing personal story. She survived the October 7 Hamas-led terrorist attack at the Nova music festival by hiding under the bodies of victims for hours before being rescued. She later recounted her experience before the United Nations Human Rights Committee, making her not just a singer, but a symbol of resilience.

As with past years, Israel’s participation in Eurovision has faced political opposition. Efforts to boycott Israel’s entry have surfaced once again, with Slovenia’s public broadcaster RTVSLO calling for Israel’s expulsion from the contest, and Spain’s RTVE board set to discuss a similar stance.

Despite intense hostility, Israeli artists have continued to shine on the Eurovision stage. In 2024, Eden Golan finished in fifth place with "Hurricane," despite facing death threats and a hostile reception. In 2023, Noa Kirel secured third place with "Unicorn," and Israel last won the contest in 2018 with Netta Barzilai’s hit "Toy."

Israel’s Eurovision journey has always been about more than just music it is a celebration of culture, resilience, and national pride. Yuval Raphael’s performance promises to be a powerful moment, not just for Israel, but for all who believe in the unifying power of music.

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