Israel’s Yuval Raphael takes second place in Eurovision
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael came in second place in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 Grand Final in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday night, after being pipped at the post by Austrian singer JJ.
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel with the song “New Day Will Rise,” parades during the flag ceremony before the Grand Final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel on May 17, 2025. Photo by Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images.
Despite winning the public vote, Raphael scored 357 points for Israel in a nail-biting finish, behind Austria with 436 points and just ahead of Estonia with 356.
Although Raphael won the popular vote among audiences around the world in convincing fashion, earning 297 points, she came in a disappointing 14th in the jury vote, with only Azerbaijan giving her the maximum 12 points.
“I’ve never felt so victorious in my life,” said Raphael, who was draped in an Israeli flag and declared, “Am Yisrael Chai” at the end of the performance of her hopeful ballad, “New Day Will Rise,” penned by singer-songwriter Keren Peles.
Raphael, 24, who survived the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival, took the stage under heightened political tension, with boos audible (in the arena, not on television) from some in the audience protesting Israel’s participation and pro-Palestinian protests outside. Despite the hostility, her performance was met with widespread praise and warm applause.
After hearing the results, Raphael said in an interview with Israel’s Kan public broadcaster, “I feel like we’ve won at life. I don’t know how to explain it. I’ll be grateful for our nation every day of my life.”
In response to a question about how she felt coming second to Austria’s JJ, who sang a ballad titled “Wasted Love,” she generously praised him, saying, “He deserves it.”
Saying she looked forward to returning home to Israel and her friends, the Ra’anana resident told Kan, “We’re going to celebrate and we’re going to breathe.”
Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with Yuval Rafael to congratulate her.
“Dear and amazing Yuval… your performance was perfect—exceptional,” Herzog said. “Your cry of ‘Am Yisrael Chai’ [the nation of Israel lives] touched our hearts.”
Raphael told Herzog, “It was the greatest honour and privilege to be the voice of this people… I’ll keep saying it until everyone is home: our only and greatest victory is when all the hostages return.”
Raphael earned the highest public vote with 297 points but placed 14th with the jury, securing Israel second overall.
