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Israel has emerged as an early frontrunner for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, with the country currently topping the betting tables for the highly anticipated event.
According to a report from Euromix, Israel’s representative, Yuval Raphael, is leading among all 37 participating nations in the competition, which will take place in May in Basel, Switzerland.
Belgium and Sweden are close behind, occupying second and third places respectively. Raphael’s selection as Israel’s entry to Eurovision follows a remarkable journey.
The 2025 winner of the Israeli talent show Rising Star has never sung professionally but wowed the judges with her powerful voice and stage presence.
Raphael’s performance on HaKokhav HaBa (The Next Star for Eurovision) garnered significant attention, with her raw emotional story of survival from the October 7, 2023, massacre at the Supernova Music Festival adding depth to her appeal.
On that tragic day, Raphael was among the thousands affected by Hamas’ brutal attack, which left around 360 people dead and many others taken hostage.
Raphael, who survived by hiding under piles of bodies in a roadside bomb shelter, has turned her pain into a powerful testament to resilience.
In an interview, Raphael expressed that despite the emotional weight of her experiences, she was unafraid of facing potential jeers from the Eurovision audience.
“I want to tell the story of the country, of what I went through, and of what others went through,” she said, “but not from a place of seeking pity. I want it to be from a place of standing strong in the face of this.”
Her choice of song for the contest is still under wraps, as Israel’s state broadcaster, Kan, is in the process of selecting the track from multiple submissions.
The official song announcement will be made on March 9, adding another layer of excitement for fans eager to hear Raphael’s contribution to the competition.
Rumors also suggest that last year’s Israeli contestant, Eden Golan, may write the song Raphael will perform, further fueling anticipation.
Israel’s strong standing in the Eurovision contest is no surprise, as the country has a history of success.
The nation has won the prestigious competition four times, with notable victories in 1978 with Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta’s A-Ba-Ni-Bi, in 1979 with Milk and Honey’s Hallelujah, in 1998 with Dana International’s Diva, and most recently in 2018 with Netta Barzilai’s empowering anthem Toy.
This success has helped cement Israel’s status as a Eurovision powerhouse, and Raphael’s emotional narrative may only enhance her chances of winning.
Last year, Israeli representative Eden Golan finished fifth overall and second in the audience voting, despite enduring hostile reactions from some audience members.
Golan’s extraordinary composure in the face of adversity resonated with many, and her performance of Hurricane, a song about the festival massacre, garnered millions of views worldwide.
While many countries have yet to select their Eurovision representatives, the early betting tables for 2025, as reported by Euromix, highlight Israel’s strong position.
The report, however, also cautions that the results are preliminary, with many national selections still to reveal their artists and songs.
Nevertheless, these early results offer a glimpse into what promises to be another highly competitive year at the Eurovision Song Contest.