Israel is competing in this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with Yuval Raphael performing New Day Will Rise
Yuval Raphael, aged 25, is flying the flag for Israel at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest with her track New Day Will Rise.
Hailing from Ra’anana, just outside Tel Aviv, Yuval kicked off her career in 2024 by competing in the Israeli TV talent show HaKokhav HaBa.
Ahead of the contest, the singer has opened up about how she’s ‘practised being booed’, in light of calls for Israel to be banned from Eurovision due to the ongoing conflict with Gaza.
Why is Israel competing in Eurovision?
Despite not being geographically in Europe, Israel’s inclusion in Eurovision comes courtesy of its membership in the European Broadcasting Union through the Israel Broadcasting Authority.
This connection has allowed Israel to participate since 1973, bagging four wins along the way: in 1978 and 1979 with A-Ba-Ni-Bi by Izhar Cohen and the Alphabeta, and Hallelujah by Milk and Honey; in 1998 with Diva by Dana International; and in 2018 with Toy by Netta.
Who is Israel’s entry Yuval Raphael?
For Yuval, representing her nation on the Eurovision stage feels “like a personal win, just to be having this experience and representing my country and doing it with such pride”.
Her journey to Eurovision is all the more remarkable considering she narrowly escaped death when Hamas gunmen attacked the Nova music festival on October 7, 2023, reports the Express.
Yuval sought safety in a concrete bomb shelter alongside around 50 others as the gunmen fired shots into their refuge.
She emerged as one of only 11 survivors from that harrowing ordeal.
Eurovision rules prohibit political statements, so Yuval will not discuss her past experiences while promoting her entry. However, she will perform her song New Day Will Rise with shrapnel still lodged in her leg from the day of the attack.
Addressing the backlash over Israel’s participation, she told the BBC: “Everybody has opinions. Im really putting everything aside and just concentrating on the most important thing. The slogan this year is ‘united by music’ and that’s what we are here for.”
She described the opening parade for the contest as “scary at times, even uncomfortable, but it makes me keep reminding myself why I’m here and my agenda”.
Yuval concluded: “[I’m] spreading as much love as I can and bringing pride to my country.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
