Despite protests against Israel and tensions over its participation, Yuval Raphael managed to win the hearts of the European audience — taking first place in the public vote and second place overall at the Eurovision Song Contest.
Last night (Saturday), Raphael performed in the grand final with her song “New Day Will Rise“, delivering one of the most memorable moments of the evening. The performance, which followed weeks of controversy, demonstrations, and opposition to the Israeli singer, became a moment of personal, national, and artistic triumph.
Watch the Grand Final Performance:
ביצוע של גמר
יובל רפאל – New Day Will Rise pic.twitter.com/0GzY8oem45— כאן (@kann) May 17, 2025
The European public was moved: Raphael topped the audience vote with 297 points, but finished second overall with a total of 357 points — only 60 of which came from the judges. First place went to JJ, Austria’s representative, with the song “Wasted Love“, scoring 436 points.
In the public vote ranking, Israel was followed by Estonia, Sweden, Austria (the overall winner), and Albania.
“I Have No Words Other Than Immense Thanks and Gratitude”
In the post-show press conference, Yuval Raphael said:
“Turns out you don’t need the judges to reach the top. I have no words other than immense thanks and gratitude for being here. Thank you to the team and the people who gave me strength through very tough moments. Your voices reached me and echoed — every time there was booing, I saw the support from Israel and other parts of the world. Thanks to you, I’m here.”
She also addressed the 58 hostages still held in Gaza, expressing hope for their swift return. Referring to the air raid sirens that sounded across Israel due to a missile fired from Yemen during the voting results, she added:
“I’m sorry that this is what we’re going through, and I hope everyone is safe. I’m sending love. All I want is to come back to you. Starting tomorrow, I’m with you — through fires, floods, sirens, and whatever may come.”
Two Stage Intrusion Attempts
In response to questions from foreign journalists, a member of the Israeli delegation described security preparations during Raphael’s performance: “There were two attempts to storm the stage during Yuval Raphael’s performance. Security personnel foiled both attempts, but Raphael was shaken and deeply moved by the incident. The delegation had to relocate for 15 minutes. Meanwhile, a large anti-Israel protest took place in central Basel.”
Israeli attendees reported receiving a Home Front Command alert advising them to avoid confrontations:
“Attention: A large-scale pro-Palestinian protest is taking place in central Basel. Swiss police are on the scene and the demonstration is under control. Israelis in Basel are advised to avoid confrontation and to refrain from displaying identifiable Israeli symbols in public. If in doubt, contact local authorities.”
Netanyahu to Raphael: “You Have Become a Symbol of Strength and Hope”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sent Yuval Raphael a message before her performance:
“Dear Yuval, in just a few minutes you will step onto the grand Eurovision stage to represent the State of Israel. My wife, I, and the entire Israeli nation are cheering you on with all our hearts. You’ve already won — you’ve triumphed over Hamas’ vile terrorists, overcome pain, and become a symbol of strength and hope. Now you stand before the entire world — representing the Israeli spirit with pride. We all love you, embrace you, and wish you great success tonight.”
