Yuval Raphael Earns 2nd Place for Israel Amid Heated Eurovision Finals

Israel’s Yuval Raphael delivered a stirring performance at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, earning the highest number of audience votes and securing a proud second-place finish despite facing a torrent of political hostility and attempts to exclude Israel from the event altogether.

Held in Basel, Switzerland, this year’s Eurovision brought together 26 nations, with Israel among a small number of non-European countries regularly invited to participate. But what should have been a celebration of music and unity was marred by politicized attacks against Israel and its representative.

Raphael, a 24-year-old singer from Ra’anana, is no stranger to hardship. A survivor of the horrific Nova Festival massacre, she had already lived through trauma before stepping onto the international stage. That background only made her performance of the ballad “New Day Will Rise” all the more powerful a song that captured both personal and national hope.

In the days leading up to the contest, Raphael faced a disturbing level of harassment. Protesters tried to intimidate her, including one demonstrator who made a throat-slitting gesture at her in a chilling display of hate. Even as she took the stage, security had to thwart two separate attempts by activists to disrupt her performance.

Despite these challenges, Raphael remained focused, unaware of the attempted disruptions. Her dignity and professionalism resonated with millions across Europe and beyond. When the audience votes were tallied, she emerged as the undisputed favorite among viewers.

However, Eurovision’s dual voting system which combines public votes with jury scores from each country ultimately denied her the win. Most national juries, composed of entertainment professionals, gave her few points, leading Austria to claim first place in what many believe was a politically charged outcome.

Still, Raphael’s message remained one of strength and gratitude. “I have never felt so victorious,” she said following the contest. “All I wanted was to bring honor and pride to this country, just a little bit of peace amid all the madness.”

She concluded with a poignant reminder that transcended music and competition: “We have not had and will not have a real victory like having our hostages at home.”

Last year, Israeli singer Eden Golan also placed in the top five under similar circumstances snubbed by juries but embraced by the people. In both cases, the message is clear: the world hears Israel’s voice, and the people continue to stand with us.

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