Days before the grand finale of “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025“: Euromix team offers a special series on the final four contestants. This time: Why should Yuval Raphael represent Israel in Eurovision 2025?  

Does Israel have a new representative for Eurovision? Yuval Raphael, 24-year-old from Ra’anana, boasts impressive credentials and undeniable talent. Yuval, who has been interested in music from a very young age and has performed in front of audiences, positions herself as the prime candidate to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland on May 13, 15, and 17. She is one of the standout contestants in “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025,” approaching each performance with immense desire and motivation, aware that reaching the grand stage requires more than just talent; hard work, dedication, and, importantly, the ability to handle pressure and high expectations are also needed. She never missed an opportunity to perform and improve her vocal and stage abilities, becoming increasingly professional.

During the period Yuval lived in Switzerland with her family, she was exposed to European classical music, jazz, blues, and psychedelic rock, all deeply influencing her understanding of music as a medium for emotional and personal expression. The influence of global pop culture is evident in how Yuval is building her career, admiring and taking cues from pop stars like Beyoncé, Freddie Mercury, and Celine Dion—and she has stated in several interviews that she sees them as role models. She connects with a broad audience in the music world while developing her unique singing style, drawing inspiration from some of the world’s greatest female vocalists.

Yuval survived the massacre at the Nova Festival on October 7, hiding in an armored vehicle on Highway 232. Her incredible story is well known and has been extensively covered in the media. Following the horrific events she experienced, which she discusses with remarkable courage, she has taken it upon herself to explain and share her story with the world. Yuval has spoken before world leaders, met with influential people, and even spoke at a UN Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. She has become a focal point for international advocacy, presenting the real face of the State of Israel and correcting the false image woven in the global arena. Her insistence on presenting the truth has made her a central and influential figure in both Israeli and global culture.

When the call for auditions for “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025” was made, Yuval Raphael knew this was her chance to make her dream a reality. She arrived at the audition full of hope, with a meticulously planned performance. Yuval chose to sing “Anyone” by Demi Lovato, a song about a cry for help and deep personal connection, and the power to face challenges. The performance began, and from the moment she let out her first note, it was clear a major star was being born before our eyes. The delivery was flawless, she articulated every word clearly. The judges were not indifferent to the performance that swept up 98% of the votes. Keren remarked tearfully: “I felt your scream, as if you were shouting on behalf of everyone still there (the hostages in Gaza). It was such a powerful performance, you delivered it so well.” Assaf concluded: “You managed to bring precision, your true self, both in detail and as a whole, to be real. You sang it with all your heart, it was tremendous.”

Throughout the season, Yuval amazed us week after week with unforgettable performances like “All I Ask,” where she earned 95% and left the judges stunned by the performance, and the moving performance of the song “Die With a Smile” she performed with Ido Malka, which featured a soft yet powerful and effortless voice. Yuval continued to leave the audience agape with an iconic performance of the song “Tzipor Midbar,” (translated as: “Desert Bird”). The performance was magical and chilling. Yuval performed the song in almost an operatic style and demonstrated tremendous abilities. The arrangement, along with Yuval’s presentation, made the performance Eurovision-worthy and captivating. Only Yuval could do what happened on stage in that performance! The echoes of her performances spread quickly even outside the studios, as video clips of the performance were shared on social media and received warm compliments and reactions from viewers. Yuval has become a very well-known figure among the Israeli public, and there is much support in her direction.

In episode 22 of the program, during the “Surprise Duet” task, Yuval opened the intriguing evening with the song “Feeling Good,” previously performed by the great Nina Simone. She opened the song with amazing blues touches and proved once again that there’s someone to rely on! Eden Golan, Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2024, joined Yuval by surprise, and it seemed the stage simply exploded with talent at that moment. The sweeping performance in which each of them displayed amazing vocal abilities was full of self-confidence and perfect expression of the song. At that moment, it seemed to all the viewers that Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2024 had crowned Israel’s representative for Eurovision 2025.

In the “Live Band” challenge, Yuval chose to sing “Mon Amour,” performed by Slimane at Eurovision 2024 for France, finishing in fourth place. She dealt with the language easily and performed the song in a unique and different way from the original, with charming and delicate refinement. Yuval emphasized in the performance her vocal abilities that impress time and again and showed that she just needs to bring herself – without crazy scenery and in a simple black dress. After the performance, Yuval burst into tears on stage and shared: “I struggled in middle school with physical development that was more accelerated than that of other girls,” she added about how the school administration handled the issue: “They asked me to change clothes. They wouldn’t let me go to classes until I put on wide men’s shirts, that was the only thing allowed. It got to the point where they involved my family. It still accompanies me to this day.”

When only six contestants remained, in the “Duel” stage, Yuval chose to sing “Talking to the Moon,” originally performed by Bruno Mars. Yuval dedicated the performance to the hostages in Gaza, especially to her friend Matan Tzengauker who is still held captive in Gaza. She performed the song brilliantly, and there is no doubt that the choice of song was brilliant. Yuval manages to reach both the highs and the lows in the song without any mistakes. In a poll conducted on our site, you also thought this was the best performance in that episode, earning 27.38% of the votes. In that performance, there was no doubt that the grand stage in Basel was waiting for Yuval.

When only five contestants remained, during the “Rita Challenge” duel against Valerie Hamaty, Yuval chose to sing the song “Ani Chaya Li MiYom LeYom,” (translated as: “I Live Day by Day”) in its ballad version. It seemed the song was tailored to Yuval’s vocal tone. She was so precise throughout the song, with delicacy and inner quiet, and proved once again what an amazing singer she is. Rita responded to the performance and said: “This is not an easy text, and you carried the words so genuinely and precisely, it was so moving.” With 95%, Yuval went straight to the semifinal stage.

Yuval concluded the first stage of the semifinals with the song “Warrior,” originally by Demi Lovato. Against a background of butterfly wings, Yuval came full circle when she sang another song by Demi, just like in her audition. Her voice was gentle yet powerful at the same time, without a hint of effort. She reached the chorus and declared that she is a warrior, and there is no other way to describe her! Although she sang in the studio and for viewers at home, it seemed as if she was singing and shouting what was on her heart to the whole world. The precise, powerful, raw voice, Yuval positioned herself as one of the strongest singers in the country!

Yuval’s success on “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025” is just the first step in a journey aimed at achieving international recognition and success. With every performance and act, Yuval strengthens the impression that she is not just an Israeli talent, but also a star with global potential. She can leap to bigger challenges, those that will bring her before global audiences and to perform at leading musical events like Eurovision. The international arena will allow her to showcase her full vocal and stage capabilities and to connect with a wider audience that can appreciate her unique style and musicality. She needs to be Israel’s representative at the major and influential forums in the current world of music, and Eurovision is the ideal stage to demonstrate her unique talent. The Israeli home audience undoubtedly connected with Yuval since in the surveys we conducted on our website, the singer won no less than 7 times for the best performance during the season!

If Yuval Rephael is chosen to represent Israel at Eurovision, it would be very beneficial for her to perform a song in the style of “Tzipor Midbar,” as she demonstrated in her stunning performance. The song, reminiscent in its essence of the song “Tattoo” by the winner of Eurovision 2023—Loreen, received from her a unique interpretation that perfectly complemented her operatic vocal talent. Yuval can bring a soft and precise voice that will captivate the hearts of the audience and become a viral performance. Combining a European dance style in this performance can add power and provide a stunning visual experience that fits the Eurovision stage. Only Yuval has the wonderful ability to combine drama and sensitivity in every move and every note, and she creates an unforgettable experience that will certainly enhance the Israeli musical identity in Europe.

Yuval describes herself as someone who not only seeks to perform and make her voice heard but also to be part of something bigger: “I live in the belief that what needs to happen will happen. I went through some switch after October 7 that just made me enjoy the moment itself. My mantra is to think and believe that what needs to happen will be for my benefit, and to trust the world.” Yuval will use her career as a successful singer, also an important role as a mentor and teacher to future generations. She will use her influence to pass on knowledge and instill values, not only in the field of music but also in cultural and social areas—as she already does today. Yuval Raphael, with her special and operatic voice, is the ideal choice to represent Israel at Eurovision 2025. With exceptional talent and a unique musical signature, she can proudly raise the flag of Israel on the global stage!

Hosts and Judges

Assi Azar and Rotem Sela will host the 11th season. As most of you probably remember, Assi Azar hosted the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, which took place in Tel Aviv. The judging panel includes Assaf Amdursky, Ran Danker, Shiri Maimon, Keren Peles, Itay Levi, and Eden Hasson – all returning from last season, which crowned Eden Golan as the winner. The season expected to conclude in early February.

Collaboration Between ‘Kan’ and ‘Keshet’

On July 23rd, we revealed that the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) and the commercial TV Broadcaster ‘Keshet’ agreed to continue their collaboration for Eurovision 2025. The agreement allows for the continuation of the popular program “HaKokhav HaBa“, which will select Israel’s representative for the competition to be held in Switzerland. This will be the eighth time the two channels collaborate in selecting the Israeli representative for Eurovision.

Impressive Ratings and Past Success

The success of the program is also evident in its impressive viewing figures. The last season of “HaKokhav HaBa” was the most watched since 2019, with exposure to 3.3 million viewers on television alone. The broadcast of the Eurovision 2024 grand final also achieved impressive viewing figures, with 1.129 million television viewers – 36.8% viewing rate, and a 62.9% viewing share. At the peak of viewing, during Eden Golan‘s performance, 1.709 million viewers watched the broadcast, representing 53.6% of households in Israel.

Challenges and Expectations

Despite the success, the last Eurovision was not without challenges. The political and security tension following the war in the Gaza Strip was strongly felt behind the scenes of the competition. However, the Israeli Broadcasting Corporation hopes that next year will pass more peacefully.

The decision to continue the collaboration with Keshet also stems from economic considerations, allowing the KAN to save on the heavy costs involved in preparing for the competition.

The continued collaboration between Kan and Keshet promises the continuation of a successful tradition of selecting Israel’s representatives for Eurovision. We can only hope that the chosen representative will continue Israel’s tradition of success at Eurovision.

Israel in Eurovision 2024

“Hurricane” is the name of the song performed by singer Eden Golan, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the tenth season of “HaKokhav Haba“. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 194 points, and in the grand final reached fifth place with 375 points. In the public vote, Israel came in second place, just 14 points behind the first place.

This is the second consecutive time that Israel has reached the top five, an achievement it had not attained since its streak of successes in 1998-1999.