Israel’s Eurovision entrant faces more backlash as rehearsals ‘disrupted’ by protesters
The disrupters had 'oversized flags and whistles'.
The organisers of the Eurovision Song Contest have released a statement addressing a disruption that took place during the rehearsal of Yuval Raphael.
The Swiss broadcaster hosting this year’s competition, SRG SSR, have announced that following ongoing controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in Eurovision, another incident has taken place.
‘During the dress rehearsal for the second semi-final of the ESC this afternoon, the performance of Israeli singer Yuval Raphael was disrupted.
‘Six people, including a family, disrupted the rehearsal with oversized flags and whistles. Security personnel were able to quickly identify those involved and escort them out of the hall.’
The organisers then emphasised that inclusion is at the forefront of the competition.
‘We would like to thank all the artists, delegations, staff, fans and guests, including many children, who are making ESC 2025 a unique experience.
‘At the same time, we would like to emphasise that the organisers are committed to a neutral, safe, inclusive and respectful environment at the ESC.’
Raphael performs the song ‘New Day Will Rise’ during the dress rehearsal (Picture: EPA)There are expected to be protests in Basel throughout the week, with manyPalestinian flags snapped at the event and a pro-Palestinian group planning a large gathering for Saturday amid the war in Gaza.
Last year, there were also demonstrations over the inclusion of Israel’s act Eden Golan, 21, whose performances were met with cheers and boos.
In preparation for her time on stage, Raphael has revealed she has prepared for ‘booing’.
The 24-year-old singer told the BBC: ‘I think I’m expecting it. But we are here to sing and I’m going to sing my heart out for everyone.’
The Palestinian flag could be seen in the crowd (Picture: Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)Kan, the national broadcaster of Israel, filed a police complaint after a ‘throat-slitting’ gesture appeared to be directed at Raphael during the opening ceremony of Eurovision 2025.
In a video shared online, a man can be seen holding a Palestinian flag and making a gesture that looks like a throat-slitting motion as Raphael walks past him during the turquoise carpet event.
The country’s participation in the show has been controversial, and a recent open letter demanded that Kan be banned.
In an open letter to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), 72 musicians, lyricists and performers associated with the contest called for the exclusion of Kan, Israel’s public broadcaster.
The letter alleged the broadcaster was ‘complicit in Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza and the decades-long regime of apartheid and military occupation against the entire Palestinian people.’
The open letter also accuses Eurovision organisers of ‘whitewashing and normalising [Israel’s] crimes’ by ‘continuing to platform’ the country.
It also emphasised that there was a ‘double-standard’ after Russia was expelled from the competition in 2022.
Protestors waved the Palestinian flag as Yuval Raphael performed during the rehearsal ahead of Semi Final(Photo by Harold Cunningham/Getty Images)A spokesperson for the EBU responded in a statement: ‘We understand the concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East.
‘The EBU is not immune to global events but, together with our members, it is our role to ensure the contest remains, at its heart, a universal event that promotes connections, diversity and inclusion through music.
‘We all aspire to keep the Eurovision song contest positive and inclusive and aspire to show the world as it could be, rather than how it necessarily is.’
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