Who is Yuval Raphael, and why are Israel competing in Eurovision? ...Middle East

Yuval Raphael carries the hopes of a nation on her shoulders as she represents Israel at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

And the 24-year-old may find she is judged on more than just her musical prowess this year as her performance comes amid the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza.

The Eurovision Song Contest has been held almost every year since 1956, with the exception of 2020 due to Covid restriction.

And in its almost seven-decade history it has expanded from seven countries taking part to 37 this year.

The widening of participation in Eurovision has brought greater diversity and inclusion but also more controversy, with tensions between states such as Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Russia and Ukraine, spilling over into the contest.

And this year is no exception as Israel’s entry has found herself the subject of several demonstrations ahead of the grand final.

Yuval Raphael is an Israeli singer, who is representing her nation at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Born in Tel Aviv, the 24 -year-old lived in Geneva, Switzerland for three years of her childhood.

She began her professional singing career in 2024 when she took part in the television talent show HaKokhav HaBa, which serves the means to select an artist to represent Israel at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

On 7 October 2023, she was one of thousands attending the Nova Sukkot Gathering music festival in southern Israel when Hamas terrorists attacked.

She gave a witness statement to the United Nations in March last year in which she described how she was one of 50 people who sought refuge in a bomb shelter and one of only 11 people who emerged from it alive.

Israel’s Dana International won the 1998 Eurovision Song Contest (Photo: Peter Bischoff/Getty)

Why does Israel compete in Eurovision?

Israel has been permitted to join the Eurovision Song Contest since 1973 and has won the competition four times to date.

The reason this non-European nation has been allowed to participate is because the Israel Broadcasting Authority (IBA) was a member of the European Broadcasting Union.

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The IBA was superceded by the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC/Kan) in 2017 but membership of the union has continued.

There are 68 broadcasting organisation members in the EBU from countries within the EU borders and outside including Algeria, Egypt, Morocco and Israel.

Under EBU rules, members “enjoy all the benefits of EBU membership including participation in the Eurovision Song Contest, access to know-how, networking, training from the EBU Academy, and access to the News Exchange and Sports acquisitions if they contribute to these services”.

Since Israel has taken part, it has secured victories in 1978, 1979, 1998 and most recently in 2018 with Netta and “Toy”.

Dana International’s win with “Diva” in 1998 made Eurovision history, as it was by the first openly transgender artist.

Have there been protests over Israel competing this year?

Eurovision organisers said protesters “disrupted” Raphael’s rehearsal for the song contest’s semi-final on Thursday.

The singer was performing “New Day Will Rise” during the preview show on Thursday night when six people with “oversized flags and whistles” obstructed her act.

Swiss broadcaster SRG SSR, which is responsible for organising the event in Basel, said the group was quickly ejected from the St Jakobshalle arena.

A spokeswoman for SRG SSR said: “During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted.

“Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles.

“Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall.

“We would like to thank all the artists, delegations, staff, fans and guests, including many children, who are making ESC 2025 a unique experience.

“At the same time, we would like to emphasise that the organisers are committed to a neutral, safe, inclusive and respectful environment at the ESC.”

The live semi-final passed without incident according to SRG SS, who said the “atmosphere in the arena remained peaceful and cheerful throughout, and no one was ejected”.

However, Pro-Palestinian protests have been held during this year’s event in the city of Basel on both Sunday 11 May and Wednesday 14 May, with about 150 people involved.

A demonstration against anti-Semitism also took place on Thursday in the city centre.

Israel’s government said Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 Hamas attacks, encountered a “hostile crowd”, during the Sunday opening ceremony, and criticised the protests.

Under the arena rules, all flags are allowed but there are limits on size.

Posting on social media after her succcess in Thursday’s semi-final, Raphael wrote: “Thank you to everyone who voted.

“Thank you for the overwhelming love and support.”

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