Yuval Raphael performing New Day Will Rise for Israel during the Eurovision 2025 semi-final. Israel, which came ⁠second in the contest, has not responded to these accusations, but frequently ‌argues ​it ‍has faced a global smear campaign. Critics of ⁠Israel’s participation cite concerns over ⁠the Palestinian death toll in Gaza, which has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza health authorities. Germany could withdraw and not ‌broadcast Eurovision if Israel is ‌not allowed to participate, a broadcasting industry source told Reuters. Israeli public broadcaster KAN said it is preparing for next year’s contest and will ⁠soon release changes to its selection process for choosing Israel’s entry.

Source: The Irish Times December 04, 2025 11:47 UTC