After her stunning performance at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest that earned her second place, Yuval Raphael returned from Switzerland and landed at Ben-Gurion Airport to a hero’s welcome and a press conference.
“Thank you all so much for being here,” Raphael began. “What an unbelievable welcome. I returned with the greatest sense of pride possible, representing this very special country. The true message behind the song is the State of Israel—what it’s going through and how it continues to look toward a new day. Thank you for giving me the honor of being your voice. I feel a huge victory, but we won't have a true one until the hostages are home.”
Raphael expressed gratitude to her team and to Keren Peles, the songwriter, who came to embrace her. She also thanked the security services that accompanied her during the contest.
The press conference was opened by Golan Yochpaz, CEO of the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (Kan). “This unbelievable story had it all,” he said, recalling the late Shaul Grinlik, a close friend of Raphael’s. “This young woman, who survived a deadly rocket shelter in Re’im, has now come in second place at Eurovision—such a surreal, incredible story, it's like a true legend.
“Yuval, this achievement is yours first and foremost, and of the entire professional team that supported you. It’s a significant moment for Kan, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation, showcasing once again our decisive impact on Israeli culture. While some seek to shut us down or harm us, in just three minutes, you and this talented delegation managed to explain Israel in the clearest and most hopeful way. It’s a tremendous achievement for the State of Israel, especially amid efforts to boycott and exclude it from international cultural stages. Yuval, you are a symbol of Israeli spirit.”
Raphael arrived at the terminal to the sound of her song, New Day Will Rise, where dozens awaited her with signs and Israeli flags. One banner read “If you will it, it is no dream,” a quote from Theodor Herzl, while another said “So good to have you home.”
She placed second in the Eurovision final in Basel with a powerful and emotional performance of New Day Will Rise. “Thank you, Europe. Am Yisrael Chai!” (“The people of Israel live!”) she shouted at the end. After the final vote count, she scored 357 points, securing Israel a dramatic and moving second-place finish, with Austria taking first. “It feels like we won at life,” Raphael said at the post-final press conference. “I will be grateful for this moment and for our people every day of my life. I’ve never been prouder to be the voice of this nation—especially this year. But again, we won’t have a true victory until our hostages are home.”
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Throughout Eurovision week, Raphael faced several challenges. At the official opening event—the turquoise carpet parade—there were pro-Palestinian protests. Many in the crowd waved Palestinian flags and held signs condemning Israel over the war in Gaza. One protester even made a throat-slitting gesture toward the Israeli delegation, prompting Kan to file a complaint with local police.
The final night was also tense, with a massive pro-Palestinian demonstration just kilometers from the arena involving thousands of people protesting Israel's participation. During the protest, Israeli and American flags were set on fire. Inside the arena, there were boos from the crowd as the Israeli act took the stage, and a pair of Dutch pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to storm the stage but were stopped.
“Yuval, those things only fuel her,” said Yoav Tzafir, the Israeli delegation’s stage director, in an interview with Ynet. “Nothing surprises me with this remarkable young woman.”