Yuval Raphael: ESC appearance under pressure – politicians and protests are threatening!

Yuval Raphael: ESC appearance under pressure – politicians and protests are threatening!

Israeli artist Yuval Raphael's participation in the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 in Basel is at the center of heated controversy. Critics are calling for their exclusion from the competition due to Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip. Loud zeit.de 26 members of the European Parliament and over 70 former ESC participants support a boycott of the Israeli delegation. Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7, 2023 massacre, plans to perform for Israel on May 17 after passing the semifinals.

The situation is particularly tense as Israel has issued a travel warning for Switzerland, the host country of the competition. The safety of Raphael and other Israeli visitors is a key concern, especially given the pro-Palestinian protests directed against their participation. These protests could not only affect the ESC, but also the public's perception of Israeli politics.

Threats to delegation

At an opening event of the Eurovision Song Contest, the “Turquoise Carpet” in Basel, Raphael was threatened by a pro-terrorist demonstrator. How jewishpress.com Reportedly, the demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and held signs with messages such as "Israel, open Gaza's borders, help can arrive." A young man who imitated a jihadist gesture also made suggestions that frightened Raphael and his team. In response, the Israeli broadcaster KAN filed a complaint with the Swiss police.

The ESC broadcast will be broadcast live by KAN, starting on May 13th, 15th and 17th. Raphael is also the winner of the reality show "The Next Star" and his performance is scheduled for the second day of the semi-finals on Thursday, where he will perform as song number 14.

Political dimension of the ESC

Although the ESC should be a non-political event that focuses on music, the political dimension this year cannot be denied. The Irish broadcaster RTÉ has ​​already received a commitment from the European Broadcasting Union for a “broad discussion” about Israel's participation after RTÉ director Kevin Buckhurst initiated this discussion in the context of the war in Gaza. In a letter to the European Broadcasting 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 represents musical performances, but is also part of a larger political debate that highlights the country's role in the international community.