Israel at Eurovision 2025: Just after the success at Eurovision, why was Yuval Raphael’s Twitter account suspended-and why now, right after the grand final?
Last night, Israel achieved a particularly impressive result at Eurovision 2025, as the country’s representative, Yuval Raphael, finished in second place at the grand final held in Basel, Switzerland. This marks Israel’s best result since Netta Barzilai’s victory in 2018, and the third time in history that Israel has ended as Eurovision’s runner-up.
Today, a new controversy surrounds Yuval Raphael, Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2025, as her official account was temporarily suspended by the “X” platform (formerly Twitter). The screen displayed when accessing the “@YuvalRaphael_IL” profile delivered a clear message: “Account suspended. X suspends accounts that violate the rules”-without providing any further information.
Suspension at a Particularly Sensitive Time – Following the Grand Final Results
The timing of this event-just days after the Eurovision final in Basel-is what draws the most attention. Raphael finished second overall in the competition but secured first place in the public vote, an extraordinary achievement that received widespread acclaim from the Israeli public and supporters worldwide. However, this result also sparked sharp criticism among anti-Israeli circles online, and incitement against Yuval’s performance at the event spread rapidly.
Is This a Pro-Palestinian Protest Reaching X?
The official reason for the account’s suspension has not been published by the platform’s management. Nevertheless, speculation online suggests this may be a political move to protest Yuval Raphael’s success on the Eurovision stage. Repeated claims from pro-Palestinian activists surfaced over the past weekend, alleging that many public votes for Israel were motivated by non-musical reasons-and calls to revoke recognition of Yuval’s achievement went viral.
In one tweet posted before the suspension, it was written: “Is this a musical victory or a political message disguised as a song contest?”-a tweet that garnered thousands of responses and likes, as tensions flared between supporters and opponents.
Hundreds Share Demands for an Explanation – Will Elon Musk Respond?
The suspension triggered an immediate reaction from Yuval Raphael’s fans, who began sharing the news across dozens of groups and popular accounts, accompanied by a clear demand: to reinstate the account and explain the reasoning behind the suspension.
Posts featuring the hashtags “#BringBackYuval” and “#FreeYuvalAccount” spread throughout the Eurovision feed and wider international circles, with some users tagging Elon Musk, the platform’s owner, directly, urging him to intervene personally.
Alongside the support, there were also voices backing the suspension, claiming that Yuval’s statement after her grand final performance-“Am Yisrael Chai”-crossed the boundaries of politics in a contest meant to be purely musical. However, there is no evidence that the account violated any explicit X usage policies.
Troubling Timing, Broad Impact
This is not the first time that representatives from politically controversial countries have faced strict enforcement by social media platforms, but in this case, the suspension followed immediately after public success, raising questions about motives that may not be purely technical or routine.
If the suspension proves to be a legitimate response to rule violations, the public will accept the explanation. But if it is revealed as a reaction to an organized wave of political complaints, it would set a troubling precedent that could affect the nature of online discourse in the future, especially for artists representing their countries on the international stage.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the name of the song to be performed by Yuval Raphael, who secured second place in the grand final of Eurovision 2025, held on May 17 in Basel, Switzerland. The song was written by Keren Peles, who also wrote “Hurricane,” Israel’s entry for Eurovision 2024, and it was performed in English, French, and Hebrew.
“New Day Will Rise” touches on one of the most universal and profound themes-the life-giving power of love and hope. The lyrics address coping with loss, separation, and pain, but also the possibility of overcoming and renewal. The song conveys the belief that every ending is also a new beginning, that pain will pass, and that love will remain with us.
Eurovision 2025: This was 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.
