Israel’s Eurovision 2025 representative, Yuval Raphael, continues to captivate audiences. After receiving three nominations in Kan Gimel’s annual chart, Raphael secures another major nomination
Yuval Raphael, Israel’s representative at Eurovision 2025, is nominated for Ynet and Galgalatz’s Breakthrough of the Year, while her song “New Day Will Rise” is nominated for Song of the Year.
After winning the televote at Eurovision and claiming a final second place, even before releasing additional singles, Israeli listeners and radio stations are showering Raphael with admiration and recognition. Recently, Kan Gimel radio station revealed that Raphael is nominated in three categories: Breakthrough of the Year, Artist of the Year, and Song of the Year.
Now, in the chart of Israel’s most listened-to radio station, Galgalatz, in partnership with leading news website Ynet, Raphael is again up for prestigious awards. Recently, she also announced her debut performance on October 9th at the Tel Aviv Amphitheater.
Eurovision Stars Compete for Awards
Yuval Raphael will compete against fellow Eurovision stars. The candidate list for Galgalatz and Ynet’s chart is a powerful reminder that Israel is a Eurovision powerhouse, and many artists who participate in the competition receive adoration from the local public and go on to successful careers – either before or after Eurovision.
Israel’s Eurovision representatives nominated in the chart:
- Noa Kirel, Israel’s Eurovision 2023 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Ata Ani Ulai” and “Lo Lehamtzi”; also nominated as Woman of the Year and Performance of the Year
- Eden Golan, Eurovision 2024 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Ma Hayinu Bechayenu” (with Ilai Botner) and “Older”
- Netta Barzilai, Eurovision 2018 winner for Israel, nominated for Song of the Year for “Hasiba She’en Bi Pachad” and Galgalive Performance of the Year for her cover of “Zombie” by The Cranberries
- Nadav Guedj, Eurovision 2015 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Meshuga”
- Harel Skaat, Eurovision 2010 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Tzalekhet”
- Shiri Maimon, Eurovision 2005 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Plada”
- Sarit Hadad, Eurovision 2002 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Kochevet”
- Shlomo Artzi, Eurovision 1975 representative, nominated for Song of the Year for “Otiyot Nechama” and Performance of the Year
- Rita, Eurovision 1990 representative, nominated for Performance of the Year
From Personal Tragedy to Global Influence
Raphael’s personal story touched the hearts of Israel and the world. At 24, born in Ra’anana and raised partly in Geneva, Switzerland, she survived the Hamas attack on October 7th at the Nova part – escaping to the so-called “death shelter,” where many were killed. She survived by playing dead, a harrowing ordeal that changed her life forever.
Since then, she has become a prominent voice in Israeli advocacy, addressing world leaders and global forums such as the UN Human Rights Council. Raphael merges her personal testimony with a rising international music career, building her reputation as an influential star that extends beyond the stage.
Israel at Eurovision 2025
“New Day Will Rise” is the song performed by Yuval Raphael, who was chosen to represent Israel after winning the 11th season of “HaKokhav HaBa”. Israel advanced to the final after winning the second semi-final with 203 points and finished second overall with 357 points in the grand final. Israel ranked first in the public vote but only 14th with the jury. This marks the third consecutive year that Israel has reached the top five – an unprecedented achievement.
Eurovision 2025: This was Israel’s 47th participation in Eurovision. Israel joined the contest in 1973 and has won four times. Its most recent victory was at Eurovision 2018 with the song “Toy,” performed by singer Netta Barzilai.
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Maor Heumann has been writing about the Eurovision Song Contest and following it for over three decades. He has attended five contests and has found something to appreciate in almost every possible musical genre — from the sugary pop entries that finish last in the semi-finals to the quirky avant-garde pieces that even the competition’s juries struggled to connect with. He usually prefers original languages and songs with depth over Swedish-produced English clones — though he doesn’t promise to stick to that rule.
He grew up on the kibbutz of Sara’le Sharon, who instilled in him a love for music and created his first connection to the contest back in 1993 — before most of the current editorial team was even born.
