Yuval Raphael

EBU approves Israel's 2026 Eurovision song after undergoing minor adjustments

Each song undergoes a review process, and EBU officials requested a few minor adjustments for Israel's entry, which the Israeli songwriters agreed to.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
Noam Bettan will represent Israel at Eurovision 2026.
Yuval Raphael, representing Israel, performs "New Day Will Rise", during the Grand Final of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025.

Former Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael co-writes song selected for this year's submission

Israel’s public broadcaster KAN announced Friday that the song, which was written by Raphael with Nadav Aharoni and Tzlil Klipi, was selected on Friday by its professional committee.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
Pro-Palestinian protestors hold a flag and a banner outside the RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) Irish public service broadcaster television studios as demonstrators call for an Irish boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if there is Israeli participation, in Dublin, Ireland, November 1, 2025.

Boycotts and rule changes don’t stop Israel topping Eurovision odds

Israel leads Eurovisionworld.com’s early odds with 10%, followed by Sweden 9%, Ukraine 7%, Finland 6%, and Italy 5%.

|ByHANNAH BROWN
Pro-Palestinian protestors hold a flag and a banner outside the RTE (Radio Telefis Eireann) Irish public service broadcaster television studios as demonstrators call for an Irish boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest if there is Israeli participation, in Dublin, Ireland, November 1, 2025.

Eurovision host says it won't ban Palestinian flags, drown out boos during Israel's performance

The 70th edition of the contest in May will have just 35 entries, the fewest since 2003, after five national broadcasters said they would boycott the show in protest against Israel's participation.

|ByREUTERS

My Word: Between songs and homecomings - opinion

Supernova massacre survivor Yuval Raphael’s participation in Eurovision symbolizes Israeli resilience amid hostility.

MAY 16, 2025ByLIAT COLLINS
ISRAEL’S REPRESENTATIVE to the Eurovision Song Contest, Yuval Raphael, waves to a crowd in Basel this week.

'I spotted my friends from the bomb shelter': Yuval Raphael reacts to Eurovision semifinal

Raphael recounted spotting her fellow Nova music festival survivors in the audience, cheering her along.

MAY 16, 2025ByWALLA!
Yuval Raphael qualified for the Eurovision final in the second semi final on Thursday night.

Israel’s Yuval Raphael qualifies for Eurovision final

Raphael sang “New Day Will Rise,” a song by Keren Peles that references the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on Israel.

MAY 16, 2025ByHANNAH BROWN
Yuval Raphael at her second rehearsal this week.

Eurovision: Switzerland once again bows to the conqueror - opinion

Switzerland, the neutral country, approves anti-Semitic riots in the name of "freedom of expression," but prohibits pro-Israeli demonstrations.

MAY 15, 2025ByANAT VIDOR
Yuval Raphael at Eurovision rehearsals in Basel, Switzerland, May 7, 2025.

New doc ‘Hurricane in Malmo’ looks at Eden Golan's Eurovision experience

Documentary about Eden Golan competing in the contest in Sweden last year.

MAY 14, 2025ByHANNAH BROWN
Eden Golan in ‘Hurricane in Malmo.’

Yuval Raphael keeps her cool at Eurovision's turquoise carpet

Raphael, who looked lovely in a flirty light-colored minidress, carried an Israeli flag past demonstrators screaming pro-Palestine slogans.

MAY 13, 2025ByHANNAH BROWN
YUVAL RAPHAEL walks the turquoise carpet on Sunday in Basel, while pro-Palestinian protests take place