Yuval Raphael, a 24-year-old survivor of the Oct. 7 Nova music festival massacre, was crowned Israel’s Eurovision representative Wednesday night after winning the finale of the reality competition The Next Star for Eurovision.
Raphael triumphed over finalists Red and Moran Aharoni, Valerie Hamaty and Daniel Weiss, who placed fourth. In the show’s dramatic finale, Raphael’s performance secured her the honor of representing Israel at Eurovision 2025, set to take place in Basel, Switzerland, this May.
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Yuval Raphael crowned winner of The Next Star for Eurovision
(Photo: Ortal Ziv Dahan)
Raphael, a resident of Ra’anana, recounted how she survived the Hamas attack on the Nova festival by hiding in a field shelter among bodies and playing dead. Her emotional backstory and vocal talent captured the hearts of viewers and judges alike.
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This marks the ninth time a reality show has selected Israel’s Eurovision contestant, a format that has consistently produced finalists in the prestigious European song competition. Among the program’s notable successes was Netta Barzilai, who won Eurovision in 2018 with her hit Toy.
Last year’s representative, Eden Golan, endured jeers and boos during the semifinals and finals of Eurovision in Sweden amidst the backdrop of war. Despite the challenges, Golan delivered a strong performance, finishing in fifth place.
The upcoming Eurovision competition will showcase artists from across Europe and beyond, with Raphael set to carry Israel’s hopes for another victory.