Eurovision: How the Silent Majority Roared for Israel

Monday, 19 May 2025 | On Saturday night 24-year-old Yuval Raphael took the Eurovision stage; her radiant performance a melody of hope that silenced a gale of opposition. Her song, “New Day Will Rise,” carried Israel to a stunning second-place finish, but it was her journey—from surviving the October 7, 2023, Hamas massacre at the Supernova music festival to facing down protests at Eurovision—that showed the world the indomitable spirit of Israel. Despite a concerted and orchestrated effort to have Israel disqualified from competing at Eurovision, the attention-grabbing protests outside the arena and attempts by protesters to rush Yuval on stage inside the venue, Raphael’s public vote victory—297 points, the highest among 26 finalists—unveiled a huge swell of public support across Europe and beyond, providing evidence that support for Israel runs much deeper than mainstream narratives would have us believe. 

Yuval’s story is one of remarkable fortitude. During the Nova festival attack, she hid beneath bodies in a roadside bomb shelter. Only 11 of the 50 Israelis hiding in the shelter came out alive. Rather than let trauma define her, she pursued her musical dreams, winning Israel’s HaKokhav HaBa televised competition in early 2025 to earn her Eurovision spot. In Basel, her performance was a masterclass of grace and defiance, weaving her brave spirit with rich vocal depth into a universal message of strength, survival and renewal. As she concluded with a bold declaration “Am Yisrael Chai” (The People of Israel Live)—the crowd’s response was mixed, with cheers undermined by boos (reportedly), a reflection of the polarized atmosphere. Yet, the public vote told a different story, awarding her top marks from 13 countries, including Belgium, UK, Spain, and Luxembourg, and the highest total points overall, revealing an unexpected tidal wave of appreciation and support. 

This triumph came against fierce opposition. Palestinian activists, including over 70 former Eurovision contestants, campaigned to ban Israel, accusing it of “genocide” in Gaza. Outside Basel’s St. Jakobshalle arena, hundreds protested, waving Palestinian flags and burning Israeli and American ones, with some clashes requiring police to use tear gas. Inside, two pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to rush the stage during Raphael’s performance, throwing paint at a crew member, though security swiftly intervened and they were arrested. Earlier, during the May 11 opening ceremony, a protester made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Israeli delegation, prompting a police complaint from Israel’s Kan broadcaster. Yuval’s dress rehearsal was disrupted by six activists with Palestinian flags and whistles, who were ejected. 

Mainstream media often magnified these protests, framing Israel’s participation as “contentious” and “controversial”. Broadcasts (like Graham Norton’s BBC presentation) and news reports highlighted the alleged boos during Raphael’s introduction, with some claiming Eurovision used “audio sweetening” to mute the sounds of dissent. Outlets like Spain’s RTVE aired pro-Palestinian messages, with commentators citing Gaza’s death toll live on air, prompting European Broadcasting Union (EBU) warnings. This focus on pro-Palestinian messaging painted Israel as isolated, yet the public vote demonstrated a completely different reality. Raphael’s 297 points, which equates to 15-20 million plus votes, dwarfed competitors. Even Ireland—often critical of Israel—awarded 10 public points and seven jury points to Israel. Yuval’s success echoed 2024, when Eden Golan’s “Hurricane” earned the second-highest public vote, landing fifth overall despite many similar protests and controversy that surrounded Israel’s entry to Eurovision. 

Eurovision’s voting offers a rare glimpse into unfiltered public sentiment, and perhaps, is more indicative than political rhetoric or polls. Analysts argue it reflects cultural affinities over, against and despite media narratives. Yuval’s top scores from European nations, including Germany, as well the UK (which awarded her the full public vote of 12 points), suggest a silent majority that either are supportive of Israel in its war against Hamas or, at least, are objective enough to put political opinion aside and acknowledge Yuval’s mesmerizing performance. Either way, it appears to be evident that millions of common-sense people across Europe, and other diverse nations, rejected the vilification of Israel peddled by pro-Palestinian activists that are continually amplified by the media. While some voters will, undoubtedly, have been swayed purely by Yuval’s artistry, the consistent support over the past two years strongly hints at a broader consensus of goodwill toward Israel, challenging perceptions of the nation as a pariah amid Gaza’s conflict. 

Yuval’s resilience is a shining reflection of Israel’s. She prepared for the “boos”, even rehearsing with simulated crowd noise so she could remain focused; her courage a product of her survival as well as a testament to her resolve. Her song was a plea for hope—for the hostages and for Israel, carrying the reverberations of her remarkable story that resonated with audiences, who saw behind her a nation still standing, despite such prolonged adversity. The jury’s 14th-place ranking, with only Azerbaijan awarding 12 points, underscored a disconnect with the public’s fervor—like a glaring metaphor of the disconnect between the mainstream press and ordinary people—but it did not dim her impact. In Israel, a nation that longs for, without needing, global acceptance, her victory was a lifeline of encouragement and proof that its story still strikes a resounding chord across the world.