Israel has decided who will fly the flag to Basel for Eurovision 2025. They picked Yuval Raphael to compete with a song titled “New Day Will Rise,” which is in three different languages: English, French, and Hebrew.
This year, Israel used HaKokhav HaBa to select their representatives. Three artists made it to the grand final, and Yuval emerged victorious, earning the most points from both the jury and the televote.
Israel has won Eurovision four times: in 1978 with Izhar Cohen & the Alphabeta, in 1979 with Milk and Honey, in 1998 with Dana International, and most recently in 2018 with Netta. This year, they’re taking their chance again.
Israel at Eurovision 2025: 10 Facts about Yuval Raphael
1. She is from Ra’anana
Yuval was born on November 5, 2000, in Ra’anana, a city in Israel.
2. She started her music career recently
Even though she has been passionate about music for as long as she can remember, Yuval only started her professional singing career recently, in 2023.
3. Her music taste is incredible
Yuval definitely has great taste in music. She likes Led Zeppelin, The Scorpions, Beyoncé, and the former Eurovision winner of the year 1988, Céline Dion.
4. Her aunt is a successful business woman
Yuval has a strong, independent woman role model in her family. Her aunt, Ronit Raphael, is a successful businesswoman and a leader in skincare and anti-aging treatments.
5. Yuval lived in Switzerland
Her participation in Eurovision 2025 in Basel brings Yuval to a place very close to her heart. She lived in Switzerland when she was five years old, as her parents moved there. She spent three years there with her family.
6. She was a speaker at UN Human Rights Council
Yuval took the floor at the UN Human Rights Council on behalf of the Jerusalem Institute of Justice. She was speaking about her past experience as a survivor.
7. She is a survivor of the Nova Festival Massacre
Hiding in a bomb shelter, she was one of the survivors of the Nova Festival Massacre that took place on October 7, 2023, in Re’im. Obviously, the experience left a lasting impact on her.
8. Yuval was scheduled to have an audition last year
Yuval had been planning to audition for the Israeli show that picks the Eurovision representative and was supposed to have an audition last year. However, her therapist advised her to drop the audition due to the traumatic events she had recently experienced.
9. She is fluent in French
Due to the years spent in Switzerland as a child, Yuval is now fluent in French.
10. HaKokhav HaBa was her debute
Before this televised show, Yuval had never performed professionally anywhere and had never participated in other televised shows. Eurovision will also be her next professional stop.
Come back for more exciting stories and facts about Yuval Raphael as we head towards pre-parties and Basel 2025 itself.
Whatever your feelings about Israel, Yuval clearly did not start a war in Palestine. She literally lived through a traumatic experience and recovered from it. She deserves respect.
Please Wiwi, don‘t make a fool of yourselves, nothing justities the support of a country that as we speak ki I l l e d over 20.000 children, some of them were burned alive or crushed by the walls of their own homes, some of them starved to death, as journalists you are in the position to speak up about it, but you choose to remain silent. What changed your opinion?
Awful what happend to her but how do we know the story is true and they are not manipulating us with lies… like they told lies about the human aid workers I S R brutally m u r de re d a couple of days ago. Does a country that commits war crimes like that deserve to participate in Eurovision? Because we all know it is pure p r p a g a n d a for them?
The song is amazing! 12 points to Israel from Germany ??
I prefer France and Switzerland. But this one is good too
Sweethearts, suddenly your moral changed… that’s weird, what is it worth if you change it barely a year after? Human rights are more important to pay attention to than the music of a country that violates those rights on a daily basis.
Thanks fior reminding the Late Tali Eshkoli. She had contributed a lot in the Eurovision scenes.
Hopefully this song bombs. I mean Israel is good at bombing.
And beating up innocent film directors
You mean the best propaganda, right?
Thank you for this post. Glad to see Wiwiblogs correcting their previous behavior.
You mean not platforming baby k1llers?
Any news outlet…. Maybe the thousands and millions of videos of palestinians with no legs because they were b0mbed by israel
It’s not just babies. Its any goyim that moves.
And there were people that day who despite the unprecedented danger showed so much courage and humanity trying to rescue as many people as they could. Some of them made it, some of them didn’t, but ALL of them are heroes. And the survivors are heroes as well.
The music lovers who went to N ova were described as “[…] the sweetest people. They would never harm anybody” and the ethos of the festival was described as being “based on a philosophy of life”.
All the zios here only argument is “its a song contest” or “whats it got to do with eurovision” when you try to deflect you know youre in the wrong and have no tangible argument against it. Israel, eat sh1t
The only good thing about the song is her voice, she can definitely sing it well live in Basel. Everything else feels flat, at least for me. It will probably struggle with jury once again.
lol dislikes already, it’s my opinion and it’s not my responsibility you don’t like it.
Downvote this if you are comfortable platforming a country that has killed 60000 people
Eurovision is no place for your activism.
So you’re comfortable platforming a country that has killed 60000 people?
I voted for Hurricane last year. I am comfortable with Kan participating.
Don’t just downvote – answer the question.
Yuval has been through a horrifying experience. This song definitely is close to her heart. Eurovision is a great stage for an unknown artist to show the world their singing ability. Ever since Noa Kirel I’ve had Israel in my top 5. Yuval is my 4th favorite song this Eurovision.
She is horrifying yes! An apar-t-heid and gen*0-ciide enabler singing for a country wanted by The International Criminal Court. A disgusting song by a disgusting singer by a disgusting countrt. Youre welcome!
She was also in the Israeli Occupation Forces sometimes back. Therefore she is not the innocent survivor that she is being depicted as.
For F&%CK SAKE, how are you not banned from here you f$#lthy full of hate ant!sem!te that should be ext1nct from this world?!
She has, and i think it’s deeply wrong to send someone who’s been though a horrifying experience like that into a situation like this, where she’s representing a country that’s doing highly contentious things (to say the least). People WILL protest because of the war, and those protests are going to be used to say “look how evil these protesters are, booing a nova survivor”.
They’re sacrificing her mental health for propaganda purposes.
Israel lynched Oscar winning filmmaker Bilal Hamdan and this is the country The EBU want to shove down our throats.
Why the downvotes? There’s an informative article published by The Guardian today. Disgusting behaviour by the IDF.
Soldiers at the scene witnessed the event and did nothing to prevent it. Eye witnesses luckily recorded the assault, otherwise they would have put him in jail for years without a trial.
As usual the deniers downvote even factual news items.
The event was witnessed and filmed by independent people. Definitely not fake news.
You spawn of Satan!
As she has been through such a most dreadful terror attack herself, let’s hope she can relate to, and speak up against, all the horrible terror inflicted on the people of Gaza and so many places in the West Bank the last 18 months.
Eurovision is not a place for activism.
Thanks much for this post!
Also, her song is so generic and blah, it had to be written by AI.
Anybody looking forward to Snow White?
No, Emilia Pérez was already bad
I have no intetest in seeing that c***. But I have a feeling new Snow White is badass and kicks some serious evil… 😮 😉 Despite what’s being said in the media…in a oh so well orchestrated way.
Ban this make believe country and free palestine. Stop platforming this disgrace of a nation that has mass4cred almost 500.000 palestinians
What do you mean? Even the Hamas authority speaks of 50.000 killed people, not 500.000. Nevertheless, that’s nothing you can make Kan responsible for.
Like it’s nothing 50.000 people, and counting…
60.000 comfirmed* experts say they bieleve there are hundred of thousands who havent been found. And Kan is absolutely responsible, theyre the ones trying to hide what their government is doing and spreading further propaganda with their satanic eurovision entries
“satanic”
Ok, Boomer. you outed yourself as a religios nationalist.
What this has to do with Eurovision SONG CONTEST? O.o
Everything. Israels very presence in an event thats supposed to be about unity is taking a stance and spreading pro israeli propaganda
How is it make believe, or at least any more more make believe than any other country? All borders are man-made.
Because its a country made on top of another country. The real owners of the land is palestine forever and always
How about you watch contests that don’t have Israel in it. Have you thought about that? That way the rest of who only care about the music don’t have to hear your whining.
How about we dont normalise sl4ughtering children?
62000 Palestinans have been killed since the escalation of the conflict began, including over 200 journalists. We are not ‘united by music.’ Do not pretend we are. We are divided by morality and choosing to be complacent as Israel spins its propaganda machine on an international stage is deplorable. You WILL be on the wrong side of history.
In fact people like you are dividing. People like Thug who always knew that Kan will take part and when it comes to the party all they do is cry and bully.
I cry and weep for the Palestinians that have been ruthlessly killed under the regime of Israel.
Sure. That’s your right. That doesn’t mean other people should care about your tears.
Millions of Nazis were killed in ww2, that doesnt make them the good guys.
Are you seriously comparing Palestinians with Nazis? People like you disgust me
Also let’s not forget who Keren Peles, the songwriter of this song and Hurricane last year, is: the person who was filming other participants without their consent and mocking them on social media.
That b****?! Nice.
The hasbara bots and their downvote brigade is in full force lmao
Astroturfing their support for Israel, of course. It’s come to be expected. You’re not fooling anyone lol
I am touched by her singing and the song – not in a way Keren and Yuval planned, but in a personal way. It just reminds me of my mother and overcomimg troublef times. For me, a hymn asserting resilience is nowadays needed more than ever amidst all the aggression we wittness.
How much has Israel paid Wiwibloggs to start platforming Israel again? Just like they used right-wing orgs to buy votes for their entry last year.
My thoughts…
Well they have a budget of over 3 million so……
There are many beautiful ballads this year, this ballad in not one of them. The melodylines are quite predictable and easily forgotten.
You forgot to add she found the cure for cancer and ended world hunger.
Facts! The fact that Wiwi is platforming that she spoke at a UN human rights council is ridiculous considering Israel has commited the worst atrocities against children every recorded.
Many true fans, that really want this SONG CONTEST to be a place of (and for) “love, love, peace, peace…” are now tired of this hatriot against Israelis broadcaster’s representatives.
I would like fans to focus on song quality, vocal abilities and the performance and not on political issues… This is SONG CONTEST, not political arena, not war field.
Don’t bring all those disusting issues to the competition that SHOULD REMAIN a place for hope, love and… tolerance. At least Eurovision should bring a relief and how can that happen with this campaign of hatriot that some people perform.
Interesting choice of words.
I believe people are just trying to send a message…to be heard. Much like the ones you’re advocating for.
LET’S NOT PLAY DUMB!
Yes. Lets not.
Especially when talking about love, love, peace, peace, uniting by music…
and… shouting, booing and performing hate at the same time.
Yes. LET’S NOT PLAY DUMB.
That’s what happens when you choose a song that could easily be mistaken for hasbara/propaganda
If the songs are political or refer to events in which politics is involved, the reactions will be political as well. Wanting people to keep silent is what dictators do.
It’s not about song.
It’s about so called “fans” who perform hate on a song contest participant, who has nothing to do with political situation and decisions in their country… and at the same time those “fans” speak about “love, love, peace, peace” which for me is unreliable and inconceivable. That’s all.
Hate is hate and no hate is no hate -no extensions.
her song is not as good as hurricane, but it has grown on me
Bibi Netanyahu is an evil evil EVIL man, but I’m not gonna put all of his sins on Yuval’s shoulders.
Let’s concentrate on the IMPORTANT issues.
Celine Dion won the contest in 1988. NOT 1998. Please amend.
Look it’s easy to confuse Dion with Dana International
The two mist iconic Eurovision outfits ever, this is true
Ehem *chanel* ehem
Great read. How brave and strong and resilient Yuval is, an embodiment of those unparalleled qualities woven into the Jewish people throughout their long and exceptional history. She deserves so much respect and admiration <3
She deserves and is entitled to nothing. Thats the problem with an entitled mentality. The chickens always come home to roost. I wish her the worst.
This is the problem with nowadays social media. People just sit behind their phone and without any problem, the write the most horrible things. You obviously do not support Israel and that is of course perfectly fine. But to say “I wish her the worst” is just utterly horrible. What has she – as a person – ever done to deserve such hate?
And what’s the fault of the more than 15,000 murdered children and 10,000 women that makes you wish them dead? Sometimes I think either there’s no intelligence or you’d rather not have it.
a lot of people in these comments not actually listening to the music it seems only looking at politics
Maybe because the song is political 😉
nope its not learn to read the lyrics
This article isn’t about the music, it’s about interesting facts.
its a song contest silly boy
Song’s “eh” at best, but for the sake of the contest, it’d be best if it didn’t qualify
I love how “Yuval” relates to “water”, and the Song of Songs verse refers to water, and “Raphael” relates to healing. This makes this song even more incredibly beautiful. It’s like love will certainly heal. Certainly, not hopefully.
I love how “Yuval” relates to “water”, and the Song of Songs verse refers to water, and “Raphael” relates to healing. This makes this song even more incredibly beautiful. It’s like love will certainly heal. Certainly, not hopefully.
It’s a propaganda song. Like What If, Shine or A Million Voices by Russia. Or do you find these beautiful as well?
I get where you’re coming from, but doesn’t Yuval’s lived experience elevate it beyond that?
No because she’s a te-rr0-rist!
Grow up. Why don’t you come cak on when you reach 16.
I’m sorry what she went through, I really do, no one deserves that , but this a Eurovision website and fans are repeating it over and over again which makes it political, it’s exactly how propaganda works.
Shine is indeed a beautiful song
This isn’t okay. Why are we normalising this?
What? Taking part in a SONG contest?
All politics aside, I don’t really like the song anyway.
Honestly, this year’s Israeli song is also objectively bad. Not that it matters anyway
She’s a good singer, but this song is so predictable and overly sweet, like eating sugar cubes. The French and Hebrew parts feel forced. This is such a bad year, with fewer than ten songs worth voting for. I don’t like the song, but compared to the others, it’s one of the better entries.
I hope the EBU will protect her from bullies.
The Israeli delegation?
Well Keren Peles is part of her delegation, and who was the biggest bully last year…
As far as I remember Klein, Thug and Satti were the greatest bullies last year.
Believe what you wanna believe hon.
There were like at least ten delegations saying that Israel’s delegation is responsible for toxic behaviour. Filming others without their consent, mocking other participants, threatening pro-Palestine voices, etc. Your memory seems pretty bad.
The majority here clearly disagree with you. There is no place for political attacks at Eurovision, and there was no reason to gang up on Israel. Joost was kicked for attacking a Swedish camerawoman, and his ejections probably prevented Israel from winning. All the points Joost would have received went to the winner and Serbia, instead of subtracting from their total, allowing Israel to win.
11. Israel released this peace song the same day they decided to cut electricity to Gazza as they close all aid to the borders. A few days later they resumed their bombing after they refused to comply with the c3asef1ire.
So what? How is Kan involved in that?
They’re showing war propaganda on their channels.
There are three very good and impactful ballads in this years competition Switzerland France and Israel. Two are already through to the final. If Israel joins them then it will be all down to the placing in the running order. Switzerland are well placed having drawn 19. If i really had to pick one i would go for France but that does not deplete the quality of the other two. Amongst all the craziness entries this year including the carry on style of the more fruity entries i think this is the year of a ballad winner.
You make a good point. You have to pause and listen to many of the songs this year, which is no bad thing.
Yuval is a STAR in the proudest pride of lions and lionesses. She will do GREAT in Basel! And her song will be heard “straight up to heaven”!
I saw her first performance on youtube.. strong and delicate at the same time.
That she only started singing about a year ago and her first performance was in the Eurovision audition..
I wish her all good in life and in Eurovision.
It’s such a wonderful song. Beautiful piano.
I feel for her having lived through that horrible terrorist attack, I hope she is doing okay and that the Eurovision ”fans” don’t project any hate onto her, she has already lived through that brutal attack and no doubt traumatized. I’m glad she feels strong enough to go on the eurovision stage and hope the best for her. She has a fantastic voice and the song is really beautiful.
NOPE.
It’s strange we start having this kind of articles again.
It’s a disgrace that the most genocidal country of the 21st century can participate in ESC simply because it’s a sponsor. I’ll turn off my TV when the devil acts. It’s very unpleasant to see hands covered in blood.
Please do us a favor and just stay away from Eurovision at all. There is absolutely no way Kan will be kicked out, all “protests” will fail. Don’t be a drama queen and let us enjoy our favourite TV show.
Truly repulsive. You don’t care what you’re doing, it’s the same thing they did to you. I’ve always sympathized with the cause, but right now I just feel disgust for that race.
Money talks. ugh
I think Israel would still be in the contest no matter who the sponsor is. You can’t jump to conclusions based on nothing and then treat them as fact.
Israel is not the most genocidal country of the 21st century by a country mile and it doesn’t take much research to realise that. Though, of course, I know it must be much easier for you to just parrot what you’ve read on social media without actually fact checking.