Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke today (Wednesday) with Israel\u2019s representative at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, Yuval Raphael, and congratulated her on her impressive second-place finish.<\/p>\n
Netanyahu began the conversation with warm words: \u201cHello Yuval, you sound wonderful\u2014and you sounded wonderful there. You brought so much honor and pride to our country. After everything you\u2019ve been through\u2014hiding to save for your life\u2014and now, here you are representing the lives of all of us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Later in the conversation, the Prime Minister referred to the moment Raphael stood on stage and declared \u201cAm Yisrael Chai\u201d (\u201cThe People of Israel Live\u201d): \u201cThat moment moved all our hearts. Well done\u2014you\u2019re amazing. What you did raised Israel\u2019s standing among the nations.\u201d<\/p>\n
Raphael, clearly emotional, responded: \u201cThank you so much. All I wanted was to bring pride to this country. Just to give people one moment of comfort amidst all this insane chaos. What matters most to me is that the hostages come home\u2014to be here with us, to celebrate with us, and to heal.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the real winner there\u201d<\/strong> At the close of the conversation, he told her: \u201cWe\u2019re working very hard on it\u201d\u2014referring to efforts to bring the hostages home\u2014\u201cand you\u2019ve added a lot of strength.\u201d<\/p>\n Watch the conversation [Hebrew]:\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n
\nNetanyahu continued: \u201cYou\u2019re the real winner. Statistically\u2014it\u2019s just a fact. You touched the hearts of a huge audience across Europe. What you did matters in every way. I\u2019m telling you\u2014people will remember this for many years to come, even beyond your lifetime. That\u2019s no small thing. To do something like this at 24\u2014it\u2019s extraordinary.\u201d<\/p>\n