Israel’s remarkable success in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest public vote has become the latest flashpoint in a broader campaign of delegitimization fueled by intense political and regional animosities. Despite singer Yuval Raphael’s rousing performance of “New Day Will Rise” catapulting Israel to the top of the worldwide televote, a flurry of European broadcasters have called for inquiries into the contest’s voting systems, citing vague concerns of manipulation.
The Vote and the Backlash
Israel led the public voting with resounding support from millions of viewers across continent and globe—receiving the maximum 12 points from Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom, and 10 points from Ireland and Finland. Nevertheless, soon after the results, broadcasters in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland, and Finland began raising suspicions, some calling for audits and reforms, with Irish broadcaster RTE and Spanish broadcaster RTVE even requesting formal investigations.
At the center of the backlash is the simple fact that Israel’s entry, a beacon of hope and resilience in the wake of the October 7, 2023 massacre, resonated deeply with the European public. Critics now claim that the ability to cast up to 20 votes by phone, text, or app “encourages manipulation,” a charge with no evidence behind it and one that has never before emerged with such ferocity unless Israel performs well.
Political Pressures and Double Standards
The reaction among some European broadcasters is not merely about voting mechanisms, but reflects mounting geopolitical tensions and longstanding efforts to marginalize Israel in international forums. Both Avrotros and NPO, two of the largest Dutch public broadcasters, went so far as to question whether Eurovision can “function as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event” so long as Israel participates.
This criticism exposes a trend: Israel’s success—whether in security, science, or culture—often becomes a trigger for anti-Israel bias under the guise of procedure or fairness. Even as the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) emphatically stated that all votes are “independently checked and verified” by compliance monitors and an external partner, and that no irregularities occurred, calls for stricter scrutiny targeted only at Israel persist.
Resilience Amidst Delegitimization
Israel’s broad support in the public vote serves as a powerful counter-narrative: despite relentless attempts by Iran and its terror proxies—including Hamas, Hezbollah, and others orchestrating violence in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen—to isolate Israel, the people of Europe and beyond recognize its right to be heard and seen. The overwhelming public enthusiasm for Yuval Raphael’s entry represented not just artistic appreciation, but solidarity with an embattled democracy displaying hope and dignity under fire.
As international attention is consumed by allegations and “audits,” too often overlooked are Israel’s persistent efforts to defend itself and preserve cultural life under existential threat. While anti-Israel activists attempt to turn Eurovision into a battleground for delegitimization, Israelis—and millions of supporters worldwide—insist that cultural achievement and national resilience can and must coexist.
Defending Integrity and Celebrating Unity
The EBU, for its part, has reiterated the robust safeguards in place for Eurovision voting, noting that “the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world” and that “each country’s result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.” None were found for Israel—nor was there any breach, as Israeli government agencies openly encouraged support for their nation, as did countless other participating nations.
Eurovision’s legacy as a forum for unity and pluralism faces a grave test: will it allow itself to be subverted by anti-Israel political campaigns, or will it stand by its stated values of inclusion and fair competition? The eruption of doubt only after an Israeli triumph suggests a troubling double standard that echoes hostile efforts by Iran and its allies to marginalize the Jewish state in every international venue.
Long after the votes have been recounted and the controversies debated, the spirit of Yuval Raphael’s performance will endure as a symbol of hope. Israel’s Eurovision success stands as a testament to a nation’s perseverance against terror and to the willingness of millions worldwide to embrace a message of defiance, dignity, and unity—even in the face of politicized backlash.
The attempts to cast suspicion on Israel’s achievement in Eurovision 2025 are yet another chapter in the struggle for legitimacy that Israel faces on every front, from the battlefield to the stage. Far from reflecting “manipulation,” the outpouring of public votes for Israel reveals a wellspring of genuine support—a musical demonstration that Iran’s terror empire and global boycotters have yet to silence Israel’s resilient voice.
