Yuval Raphael Shines Through Turmoil, Qualifies for Eurovision Final with ‘New Day Will Rise’

Basel, Switzerland — Israel’s contestant Yuval Raphael secured a place in the Eurovision 2025 final on Thursday night, delivering a powerful and poignant performance that deeply resonated with audiences worldwide.

Singing “New Day Will Rise,” a song written by acclaimed Israeli songwriter Keren Peles, Raphael’s performance stood out not only for its vocal excellence but for the emotional weight behind it—an homage to the tragic Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

At just 24 years old, Yuval Raphael’s journey to the Eurovision stage is remarkable. A survivor of the Supernova Music Festival massacre, she experienced firsthand the horrors of that day.

Raphael was one of only 11 survivors out of nearly 40 people trapped in a bomb shelter, where terrorists attacked with grenades and gunfire.

Her survival story adds a profound layer of meaning to her Eurovision entry, making her performance a message of resilience and hope amid tragedy.

Raphael’s “New Day Will Rise” combines primarily English lyrics with poignant lines in French, weaving a message of endurance and unity in the face of suffering.

The chorus — “New day will rise / Life will go on / Everyone cries / Don’t cry alone” — struck a heartfelt chord with many, especially Israelis, who have felt the ongoing pain of recent events.

Her voice was a stirring mix of strength and vulnerability; she belted out some lines with fervor and whispered others with tender emotion, drawing comparisons to a young Barbra Streisand for her vocal control and stage presence.

The atmosphere at the second Eurovision semifinal in Basel was charged with tension and conflicting emotions. While many audience members gave Raphael standing ovations, others waved Palestinian flags and booed, continuing protests that had been evident even during her final rehearsal.

Nevertheless, Raphael remained composed, never losing her focus or confidence. At the close of her performance, she addressed the crowd warmly: “Thank you, Europe! I love you! Merci, toda.”

Before taking to the stage, Raphael spoke openly about the significance of participating in Eurovision. In an interview with Israel’s Keshet 12, she described the experience as a personal triumph, fulfilling a dream she had long held.

“It’s a crazy feeling to be here. From a personal perspective, it feels like a huge victory. Like a huge win to fulfil my dream, which has always been there,” she said.

Despite facing hostility from protesters—including a man who made a throat-slitting gesture toward her on the turquoise carpet earlier in the week—Raphael’s resolve never wavered.

Kan, Israel’s public broadcasting authority, filed a complaint with Swiss police, resulting in efforts to identify and ban disruptive individuals from future Eurovision events.

Raphael credited her family and team with keeping her spirits high throughout the emotionally taxing process, stating that their support reminded her of “why I’m here and how much love I’ve come with… to bring honor to my country and for the music.”

Israel’s participation in Eurovision this year has sparked significant debate and controversy. Following the outbreak of the war in Gaza, many former contestants and European broadcasters called for Israel’s exclusion from the competition.

However, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes Eurovision, reaffirmed that the contest is a cultural event between public broadcasters and that Kan had not violated any rules. As such, Israel’s entry was allowed to compete without interruption.

Raphael’s qualification continues a strong tradition for Israel at Eurovision, where the country has competed since 1973.

Israel’s history in the contest is marked by several victories: in 1978 with Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta’s “A-Ba-Ni-Bi,” again in 1979 with Milk and Honey’s “Hallelujah,” and in 1998 with Dana International’s “Diva.”

Most recently, Netta Barzilai won in 2018 with her empowering hit “Toy,” and Israel hosted the competition in Tel Aviv in 2019. Eurovision’s semifinal rounds draw hundreds of millions of viewers worldwide, and voting is a critical element.

Before the semifinal, betting odds placed Raphael in a three-way tie for first place alongside Austria’s JJ and Finland’s Erika Vikman. Going into the final, Israel is currently ranked fifth by bookmakers, trailing favorites like Sweden’s KAJ, whose upbeat song “Bara, Bada, Bastu” celebrates Finnish sauna culture.

The final, scheduled for Saturday night, will feature winners from both semifinals alongside the automatic qualifiers known as the “Big Five” (France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the UK) and the host country, Switzerland.

Audience voting has historically favored Israel, particularly in the semifinals, while the final winner is decided by a combination of audience and national jury votes. Viewers worldwide can vote at https://www.esc.vote/, though countries cannot vote for their own contestants.

The Israeli broadcast of the final will air on KAN 11 at 10 p.m. on May 17. While the ultimate outcome remains uncertain, Yuval Raphael has already captured the hearts of many with her courage and artistry.

Her message — that even in darkness, “a new day will rise” — offers hope not only to Israelis but to a global audience watching closely.

The Eurovision stage has long been a platform for cultural expression and peaceful competition, rooted in the post-World War II goal of fostering unity across nations.

For Israel, Eurovision holds special significance as there are no regional song contests in the Middle East that include it. In this context, Yuval Raphael’s presence on the international stage carries weight far beyond the music.

As she continues to represent Israel in the finals, Raphael stands as a symbol of resilience, artistic excellence, and the enduring power of music to transcend conflict.

Regardless of the final score, her journey from the depths of tragedy to the bright lights of Eurovision is already a victory in itself.

Key Facts:

• Yuval Raphael qualified for the Eurovision 2025 final at the second semifinal in Basel on May 15.

• She performed “New Day Will Rise,” written by Keren Peles, referencing the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

• Raphael survived the Supernova Music Festival massacre, where nearly 40 people died.

• Despite protests and booing, Raphael remained poised and received significant audience support.

• Eurovision’s rules prohibit excluding Israel based on political disputes; the EBU affirmed Kan’s eligibility.

• Israel has won Eurovision four times and hosted the contest in 2019.

• The final will air on KAN 11 on May 17, with Israel currently ranked fifth in betting odds.

Yuval Raphael’s story and song remind us that music can be a powerful force for healing and hope amid turmoil — a message the Eurovision stage was built to share.