Yuval Raphael: ESC appearance under pressure-politicians and protests threaten!

Yuval Raphael: ESC appearance under pressure-politicians and protests threaten!

The participation of the Israeli artist Yuval Raphael at the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 in Basel is in the center of violent controversy. Critics are calling for their exclusion from the competition due to the Israeli procedure in the Gaza Strip. According to jewishpress.com Demonstrators Palestinian flags and holds signs with messages such as "Israel, open the borders of Gaza, help can occur." A young man who imitated a jihadist gesture at the same time made hints that frightened Raphael and his team. In response to this, the Israeli broadcasting institution KAN filed a complaint with the Swiss police.

The transfer of the ESC is broadcast by Kan Live, starting on May 13, 15 and 17. Raphael is also the winner of the reality show "The Next Star", and his appearance is scheduled for the second semi-final day on Thursday, where he appears as a song number 14.

Political dimension of the ESC

The ESC should be an apolitical event that focuses on music, but the political dimension cannot be denied this year. Irish radio RTé already received a promise from the European Radio Union for a "broad discussion" about Israel's participation after Rté director Kevin Buckhurst initiated this discourse in the context of the war in Gaza. In a letter to the European Radio Union, 72 former ESC participants claimed that the Israeli broadcaster Kan was involved in the "genocide" against the Palestinians.

Overall, the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 for Israel not only stands for musical performances, but is also part of a larger political debate that illuminates the role of the country in the international community.