Dim Amor

Basel, Switzerland – A historic moment for Israel at Eurovision 2025: Yuval Rafael secured her place in the final of the prestigious competition after a powerful and emotional performance that moved the audience and judges. Despite boos heard at the beginning of the performance, Rafael managed to rise above the challenges and deliver an unforgettable performance that earned her a spot in the coveted final.

The Israeli singer, who was the 14th contestant out of 16 in the second semi-final, took to the stage with slight hesitation at first, but quickly overcame the disruptions and delivered a performance that grew stronger along the way. The highlight of the performance came during the Hebrew sections of the song, which received a warm response from part of the audience.

The decisive moment proved Rafael's determination when the wing of her sleeve got caught in the giant chandelier surrounding her on stage, but she continued performing without hesitation and concluded her appearance with a broad smile.

In a surprising last-minute decision, Rafael and the Israeli delegation changed a small part of the song – during the chorus, one note was removed because, according to delegation members, "it felt too forced". This change proved to be the right decision, contributing to a more natural flow of the performance.

After finishing her performance, Rafael addressed the audience with emotion: "Thank you, Europe. I love you, Merci, toda." The touching moment continued when she left the stage, where she shared with the song's creator Keren Peles and team members the special experience she had on stage.

The event in Basel was not without tensions. Earlier that day, during the last family rehearsal before the semi-final, Rafael's performance was disrupted by six people, including members of the same family, who waved large flags and blew whistles in an attempt to interfere with the rehearsal. Security teams acted quickly, located the protesters, and removed them from the hall.

Despite the disruptions, Rafael also received significant support from part of the audience who responded at the end of the song with loud cheers and applause.

With the opening of the broadcast, an Israeli flag with the symbol of the hostages was seen in the audience, reminding of the ongoing tragedy that continues to accompany Israel. Yuval Rafael competed against representatives from Australia, Montenegro, Ireland, Latvia, Armenia, Austria, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Georgia, Denmark, Czech Republic, Luxembourg, Serbia, and Finland. In addition, viewers saw for the first time the songs of representatives from France, Germany, and Britain – included in the "Big Five" and automatically advancing to the final.

Not far from the arena where Eurovision was held, shortly after Rafael's performance, a march gathered with Palestinian flags, with participants calling to "boycott Israel". Despite the loud protests outside the hall, inside the competition continued as usual, with an announcement at the end of the evening of the ten countries that advanced to the final, which will be held on Saturday, May 17.

Yuval Rafael's rise to the Eurovision final represents a moment of national pride in challenging times for Israel. Her moving and powerful performance, along with her ability to cope with pressures and disruptions, represents the spirit of determination and resilience of Israel. Now, all eyes are on the final, where Rafael will represent Israel in front of hundreds of millions of viewers around the world, carrying with her not only the hopes of winning but also her touching personal story and the story of an entire country.

Photo: Kan 11, in accordance with section 27a of the Copyright Law