Israel in Eurovision 2025: Singer Yuval Raphael took the stage for her first rehearsal with the song “New Day Will Rise”. Stay updated with all the reports from Basel, Switzerland…

Israel was the sixth country to hold a rehearsal for Eurovision 2025 today with a – performance. Israeli singer Yuval Raphael is the sixth contestant to rehearse today on the Eurovision 2025 stage in Basel, Switzerland, with the song “New Day Will Rise”. Yuval Raphael will perform as song number 14 in the second semi-final, which will take place on May 15 in Basel. This year’s competition features 37 countries.

Taking to the stage next is Yuval Raphael from Israel with her powerful ballad New Day Will Rise, blending English, French, and Hebrew lyrics. Yuval, 24, hails from Ra’anana near Tel Aviv but also spent part of her childhood in Geneva, making her quite familiar with Switzerland.

Further details about Israel’s performance

Yuval earned her Eurovision spot by winning Israel’s talent show HaKokhav HaBa, though the song itself was selected later, leaving us without prior staging clues. But that’s no problem, as we’re watching everything unfold live.

First thing to note – there’s an absolutely enormous stage prop, easily the biggest so far this year. It’s a two-level circular structure, about five meters tall, with a curved staircase spiraling up one side. The top level is slightly smaller, and both tiers are wrapped in shimmering curtains of silver strands that encircle the whole thing. Picture a modern birdcage or a climbable chandelier – it’s not exactly either, but that gives you the idea until photos are released.

Yuval begins the performance in a silhouette of blue light, standing on the frame of the prop, dressed in a sleek black pantsuit with sharp shoulders and dramatic flamenco-style sleeves. In the second verse, she moves back along the catwalk, and there’s a stunning single camera shot as she circles the structure while singing the French part. She then ascends the stairs to deliver the Hebrew verse and finishes the song from the upper platform. Up close, you can see the “cage” is made of individual crystal strings, giving it a chandelier-like appearance.

A standout moment – when she lifts her arms, the flowing sleeves resemble wings, reinforcing the birdcage concept. The LED wall displays cascading water over dark stones, growing more intense with the final chorus until everything fades to white as the soft piano outro plays.

Pyro update: a cascade of fireworks bursts from the back of the stage during the key change chorus.

The Israeli Eurovision Song for 2025 – All the Details

The Israeli Eurovision song was revealed during a festive broadcast aired on the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation “KAN”, during which the creators of the song and the members of the committee who chose the song for the competition appeared. The broadcast was hosted by Hila Korach, and during it, Yuval Raphael performed alongside Israel’s Eurovision 2024 representative, Eden Golan, and together they performed the song “Hurricane.” At the end of the broadcast, the official music video for the Israeli Eurovision song was revealed.

Yuval Raphael – Who are you?

Yuval, 24, from Ra’anana, lived in Geneva, Switzerland, during her childhood. She disclosed that she escaped from a Hamas terror attack on October 7th, during which grenades were thrown and shots were fired at a party. Many around her were killed, and she had to pretend to be dead to survive. What strengthens Yuval is music and advocacy for Israel. She has spoken in front of world leaders, met influential people, and even spoke at a Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva. She has become a focal point for international advocacy, presenting the true face of Israel and correcting the false image portrayed in the global arena. Her insistence on presenting the truth has made her a central and influential figure in both Israeli and global culture.

Yuval has never sung professionally and only started performing in front of audiences in recent months. The echoes of her performances quickly spread on social media, garnering warm praise and responses from viewers.

Yuval won first place in the TV show “HaKokhav HaBa for Eurovision 2025” after being chosen by the panel of judges and the home audience. She will represent Israel in Eurovision 2025, to be held in Basel on May 13, 15, and 17, in hopes of bringing Israel its fifth win in the competition.

Eurovision 2025: This is Israel’s 47th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the competition in 1973 and has won it four times over the years. Israel’s last victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy” performed by singer Netta Barzilai.