Raphael's stirring performance of "New Day Will Rise" resonated powerfully with Eurovision audiences, catapulting her from a disappointing 15th place in jury voting to an impressive second-place overall finish through massive public support. However, when the European Broadcasting Union unveiled its official Eurovision album compilation video on Friday, Raphael had vanished entirely from the celebratory montage that prominently featured performers from Austria, Estonia, Sweden, Germany, and France.

The glaring disparity has provoked immediate backlash from Eurovision enthusiasts. While other competing nations enjoyed sparkling stage presentations, dramatic soundtracks, and emotionally charged moments in the compilation, Israel appeared completely erased, as though Raphael's remarkable comeback performance never happened.

The Eurovision's official Instagram post quickly transformed into a heated forum for dismayed fans voicing their frustration. One particularly vocal user commented, "It's deeply disappointing to witness Israel, which secured second place in Eurovision this year, being deliberately excluded from this post. This contradicts the spirit of fairness and unity that the slogan 'United by Music' purports to embody. Selective inclusion represents more than mere disrespect – it reveals a double standard that countless viewers refuse to overlook."

This exclusion continues a disturbing pattern that has developed over recent Eurovision cycles. In 2023, Noa Kirel's third-place achievement secured her prominent placement in the official compilation. The subsequent year witnessed Eden Golan's fifth-place performance being omitted from promotional materials. Now, even securing second place overall has proven inadequate for inclusion, indicating an escalating trend that devoted fans are increasingly rejecting.

The controversy transcends mere disappointment, raising fundamental concerns about Eurovision's proclaimed commitment to musical unity and equitable representation. Raphael's remarkable ascent from mediocre jury scores to overall runner-up status exemplified the transformative power of audience connection – exactly the type of Eurovision breakthrough the competition typically celebrates. Her removal from official materials contradicts that inspiring narrative and generates troubling questions about the standards governing promotional decisions.

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Yet alongside applause for this extraordinary achievement during such challenging times, Raphael faced a barrage of accusations about "vote rigging" and "manipulations" from various countries criticizing the public voting system. Then, like an unexpected character in a drama about the entertainment world, Scooter Braun stepped into the spotlight.

Braun (43), a Jewish-American who orchestrated the careers of megastars like Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato, wasn't previously known as a vocal supporter of Israel. However, since October 7, he underwent a transformation, evolving from someone who typically remained behind the scenes into an Israeli advocacy champion armed with Instagram and an uncompromising sense of justice.

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On Tuesday, Braun uploaded a video to his Instagram that expressed his unwavering support for Yuval and her remarkable musical achievement, "I want to talk about Eurovision because I was just reading that there are people having an issue with this young woman, Yuval, taking second place at Eurovision," he began before immediately confronting anyone questioning Raphael's success.

Braun offered no halfhearted defense. He underscored that the Eurovision manager had definitively stated that there is no evidence of vote manipulation or irregularities. His message was clear: stop inventing conspiracies because they simply aren't real.

Braun continued by exposing what he sees as the music industry's hypocrisy – an industry that claims to champion new talent but often shuts out those who don't conform to expectations. "Yuval won the audience vote. Have any of you ever made a huge superstar globally? I don't think so," he said and added, "So what makes you think that you know what the public wants?"

Yuval Raphael's narrative, Braun emphasized, transcends the typical pop star story. She survived the Nova massacre and, despite her trauma, chooses to sing messages of hope, love, and peace. "Here's a girl who survived the Nova massacre, who had her life almost taken away while she was celebrating in a music festival. And she has the courage to go on stage and sing a song about overcoming those odds and a song about there being another day to live and live in love and peace, and a video that represents that. And you're questioning why the public loved this song and loved her," he continued.

While major producers and cultural critics persist in their skepticism, Braun concluded his message with unmistakable clarity, "She was number one in the public vote and number two overall in the competition. And I would just say being number one by the public is the most important thing," he clarified, "So stop questioning her and question your own taste. Because the public spoke and you should listen to them. And a new day will rise."

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The Spanish Broadcasting System announced it would appeal to the European Broadcasting Union to review the song contest's voting system, with specific focus on audience voting procedures. While professional judges awarded Raphael just 60 points, audience votes catapulted the Israeli performer into second place with an impressive 297 points.

Austria, which won the overall competition, experienced the opposite scenario – dominating the judges' vote but receiving fewer than 200 points from audience members.

Spanish officials, whose contestant finished in 24th place with only 10 audience points, argue that public voting is unduly influenced by political and security situations. They specifically cited Ukraine and Israel as examples of countries engaged in prolonged military conflicts that "profit" from audience sympathy votes.

The European Broadcasting Union has not yet responded to Spain's request, according to local media reports, which also indicate that additional countries are expected to join Spain's appeal for voting reform.

To conclude with Yuval Raphael's own sentiment – Am Yisrael Chai.

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The Eurovision final that took place Saturday night in Basel became an emotional watershed moment for Israelis and Israel supporters, as Yuval Raphael, Israel's representative to Eurovision 2025, captured second place against overwhelming odds thanks to an extraordinary 297 votes from public voting, while judges from participating countries awarded Israel a mere 60 points.

Israel, which languished in 15th place after the judges' votes, catapulted to first place in the competition after receiving public support from 34 out of 37 countries, as well as votes from the newly introduced "Rest of the World" category – a feature that allows fans from non-participating nations like Canada, the Philippines, Japan and others to participate in the voting process.

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This created a dramatic head-to-head showdown between Israel and Austria, which had received the highest number of points from the judges. For Israelis watching the competition, the moment of announcement was truly surreal, as they received alerts about missiles being fired from Yemen toward Israel, forcing many to follow the Eurovision results from within bomb shelters.

"There is no one prouder than me to be the voice of these people," Yuval Raphael said, her voice trembling with emotion as she began her remarks at the post-final press conference. "What a situation this is. Second place in Eurovision, that's what we need, right?" she added, still visibly stunned. "I don't know how to make sense of this situation at all, but all I have to say is – Am Israel Chai [the people of Israel live], and there never was and never will be anyone like us. [However] we will never have a victory like our hostages simply returning home... that's the real victory."

Thank you to everyone who voted.

I love each and every one of you more than everything in the world!

Am Yisrael Chai!
pic.twitter.com/1DnwauMk6t

— Yuval Raphael (@YuvalRaphael_IL) May 17, 2025

Addressing the sirens that blared through Israel, Raphael said, "I heard about it, I'm so sorry that this is what we're going through," she added. "I love you with all my heart, I hope so much that everyone is safe. I'm sending you love. All I want is to return to you. Tomorrow I'm with you – through thick and thin, in sirens, in whatever comes our way. Truly. I just want to come back to you."

The second-place finish, against the backdrop of sirens – a stark reminder of the ongoing war – a massive pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the venue during the final, and two attempts to storm the stage during Raphael's performance, represents an extraordinary achievement. These challenging circumstances certainly didn't suggest Israel would finish among the top three countries this year.

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The disparity between European public support and the countries' juries was palpable this year, perhaps more pronounced than ever before. Raphael, who dominated the public vote with 297 points, became the first Israeli since Netta Barzilai to win the televoting component, and the first since Israeli singer Ofra Haza to secure second place overall in the competition. "If the judges had given us just 50 more points – Israel would have won Eurovision," Yoav Tzafir, the director of Israel's performance, said. "It's no secret – our supporters are ordinary people, the general public. Those against us represent the elite. That's the fundamental difference. But I feel like we won. This is a victory for all of us. It turns out you don't need the judges to achieve great success."

"In any case, what kept running through my mind – and I sincerely hope this doesn't sound presumptuous – is that truly, if you will it, it is no dream," Raphael added. "If you will it – it is no dream."

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Israel has done it again, advancing to the Eurovision 2025 final with a powerful performance of "New Day Will Rise." Israeli representative Yuval Raphael moved the audience and secured a coveted place among the ten countries qualifying from the competition's second semi-final.

Raphael took the stage as performer number 14 and proved that Israel's Eurovision momentum remains stronger than ever. The audience at St. Jakobshalle in Basel cheered enthusiastically, and the expected boos and Palestinian flags were also visible and audible.

Boos erupted immediately as Yuval began her performance, with a group of people in the audience waving Palestinian flags. However, their protests were quickly drowned out by waves of supportive cheers from the crowd, reaching their peak at the conclusion of Raphael's remarkable performance.

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Social media reaction confirmed that viewers of Eurovision's second semi-final were impressed by Raphael's performance. The BBC's Eurovision coverage page wrote, "A masterclass in vocal performance from Israel's Yuval Raphael."

In the first semi-final, the qualifying countries were Norway, Albania, Sweden, Iceland, Netherlands, Poland, San Marino, Estonia, Portugal, and Ukraine. They were joined tonight by Lithuania, Armenia, Denmark, Austria, Luxembourg, Finland, Latvia, Malta, and Greece. Host country Switzerland automatically advances, along with the "Big Five" – France, Italy, Spain, Britain, and Germany.

After leaving the stage, Raphael revealed she recognized friends who had sheltered with her during the Hamas attack on October 7: "I said hello to the audience, looked to the side, and suddenly realized my shelter friends were there. Suddenly, I see my best friend waving hello to me from up high. Somehow, I recognized them, I was in shock. That gave me so much strength," she said.

The Eurovision final will take place on Saturday, May 17, where Israel will perform fourth in the running order.

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As Israel's representative, Yuval Raphael, continues to amaze audiences in Basel and on social media with her performance of "New Day Will Rise," we talked to people across Israel to gauge excitement for this year's contest, marking the second year Israel participates during the ongoing war.

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Ahead of the grand final, we asked Israelis about the country's chances to win, their messages for Raphael, and were surprised to encounter a "blast from the past" dating all the way back to Israel's first winning representative in the 1978 Eurovision, Izhar Cohen.

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Tonight's highly anticipated Eurovision second semi-final features sixteen nations battling for ten coveted spots in Saturday's grand final, with Israel's Yuval Raphael drawing worldwide attention as she performs amid protests and threats in Basel, Switzerland.

Ranked fourth in prediction polls with "New Day Will Rise," Raphael faced both antisemitic harassment, including a protester who was arrested after making slaughter gestures toward the Israeli delegation, and overwhelming support as she prepares to take the stage 14th in a diverse lineup that ranges from Australia to Finland.

"Everything we've been working on for months has transformed into reality, and regardless of preparation, it's overwhelming," she shared in an interview with Israel Hayom. "This has been the most enjoyable experience of my life. I savored every moment and never wanted to leave the stage."

Regrettably, as anticipated, the reception for Raphael and the Israeli delegation has proven challenging. Anti-Israeli demonstrations have shadowed the competition's official events, including audience members shouting "free Palestine" during Raphael's rehearsal, and a pro-Palestinian protester made a throat-slitting gesture toward the delegation. Israeli officials immediately filed a police complaint, and the individual was arrested and questioned.

"The turquoise carpet day was difficult. I'd already heard about the protests backstage and understood what I was walking into, but experiencing it firsthand is different," Raphael explained. "I took a deep breath and reminded myself that nobody could be prouder than me to represent this country and wave our flag – I grabbed it and waved it enthusiastically. This is who I am and what I stand for," she told Israel Hayom.

The threatening incident particularly affected Raphael. "It was genuinely frightening – all those gestures, but it reinforced exactly why I'm here and where my heart belongs, and it will enhance my performance."

When asked if she ever questions facing such hostility, particularly as someone who survived the October 7 attack at the Nova music festival, Raphael remained resolute, "No, because we're all still going through this together. I arrived with the most open heart, I maintain that openness, and I came to create music."

While there is still no official confirmation from police regarding the incident, sources within the Jewish community say that the man who made the threatening gesture wasn't a local resident but someone who apparently traveled specifically for the Eurovision events. When asked about this information, Raphael responded, "From my personal perspective, I'm pleased the issue is being addressed. I'm setting aside everything that happens because I have a single objective – to deliver a strong performance."

Despite these challenges, Raphael also experienced significant support. "There was tremendous affection from the audience on the turquoise carpet. People made heart gestures toward me and shouted, 'we love you'."

Wednesday's dress rehearsal provided insights into what viewers can expect tonight.  Raphael delivered a compelling performance of "New Day Will Rise," leaving a strong impression on the audience. According to Songfestivalweblog, had the political circumstances been different, this entry might have been a serious contender for the Eurovision crown. As things stand, it's expected to resonate more with the public than with the professional juries, who may take a more cautious approach. Nonetheless, the song was met with enthusiastic applause in the arena, signaling strong audience support and suggesting it could perform well in the televote.

Social media commentary has been notably positive toward Raphael's performance, with multiple TikTok users praising the entry. Videos featuring clips from the rehearsal have garnered thousands of views and supportive comments, showing the audience applauding enthusiastically.

Raphael's message to supporters remains heartfelt, "Just to tell my people that I love them immensely, and there's no one like you in the world. I feel everyone's support, which strengthens both me and our team here tremendously. I have no greater honor than representing them."

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After the internet exploded with speculation about iconic Canadian singer Celine Dion making an appearance at Eurovision 2025 events in Basel, a video of the star shown during the dress rehearsal for Tuesday's first semi-final suggests the singer might not attend the competition events after all.

"Switzerland is in my heart, it's the country that believed in me, that gave me a chance to be a part of something extraordinary," the singer said in the video, referring to her participation in the 1988 Eurovision contest in Dublin as the Swiss representative, winning first place with the song "Ne Partez Pas Sans Moi."

"It was a life-changing moment for me, and I am so grateful for everyone who supported me. Now, 37 years later, it is so beautiful and emotional to see Switerzland winning... this night is yours, and I hope you feel as proud as I do," Dion concluded.

At the conclusion of Dion's message, an orchestra began playing her winning song, performed by last year's Eurovision representatives from Greece, Lithuania, Ukraine and Portugal – who were among the most vocal opponents of Israel's participation in last year's competition – further suggesting the star likely won't be traveling to Basel in person.

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However, a Swiss broadcasting corporation spokesman said, "All elements of the first semi-final show were played through and rehearsed intensively. There are currently no changes regarding Celine Dion – we are still in close contact with her," meaning uncertainty still surrounds the star's expected appearance despite all indications to the contrary.

Due to complications from stiff-person syndrome (SPS), Celine Dion has largely withdrawn from touring in recent years. The Canadian vocalist made a notable return to the spotlight during the 2024 Paris Olympics, delivering an emotional rendition of Edith Piaf's "Hymne A L'Amour" from the Eiffel Tower in what many considered a triumphant comeback performance.

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The Swiss police have arrested the pro-Palestinian demonstrator who threatened Israel's Eurovision delegation during the turquoise carpet event at the competition's opening ceremony, Israel Hayom has learned.

Jewish community representatives in Basel were informed of the arrest following concerns about the serious incident. Sources within the local Jewish community told the newspaper that the demonstrator was not a local resident but had traveled to the city specifically for the competition.

During the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael faced a threatening gesture from a protester, who mimed a throat-slitting motion. The incident occurred as Raphael walked the turquoise carpet, accompanied by a… pic.twitter.com/FLa0vMAGbM

— ILTV Israel News (@ILTVNews) May 11, 2025

The incident occurred on Monday when a young man carrying a Palestinian flag, who was participating in an anti-Israel demonstration, made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Israeli Eurovision 2025 delegation as they walked the turquoise carpet during their presentation. In response to the threatening gesture, members of the Israeli delegation filed a police complaint, and Swiss police officials later arrived to collect testimonies.

The young man has been arrested and brought in for questioning. Israel's public broadcaster will continue to monitor developments in the investigation with local law enforcement authorities.

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Eurovision Song Contest Director Martin Green stated that pro-Palestinian protests – targeting Israel's participation and its representative Yuval Rapahel – were conducted "peacefully" and "respectfully" in Basel on Sunday. Green made these comments in an interview with Eurotrip Podcast as the Eurovision events officially began.

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In a video published on the podcast's Instagram account, an interviewer asked Green if the protests at the opening event on the turquoise carpet were a "headache" or if he was going to "address it." Green responded: "It's a free country and a democracy, and everybody has a right to their opinion," adding, "The people that were out there today did it peacefully and respectfully... They have every right to do that."

This statement comes after Israel's Public Broadcasting Corporation Kan filed a complaint with the Swiss Police after a pro-Palestinian protester made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Israeli delegation as they boarded a tram for a journey in Basel. The Israeli delegation, including representative Yuval Raphael, was traveling with delegations from other countries when they passed through the crowds where the incident occurred.

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