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Israel has officially released its entry for the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, a powerful ballad titled New Day Will Rise. The song, performed by Yuval Raphael and written by renowned singer-songwriter Keren Peles, blends English lyrics with lines in Hebrew and French. It carries a message of resilience, hope, and unity.

The chorus of New Day Will Rise encapsulates its uplifting theme:

“New day will rise/ Life will go on/ Everyone cries/ Don’t cry alone/ Darkness will fade/ All the pain will go by/ But we will stay.”

Yuval Raphael, who will perform the song in Basel, Switzerland, in May, describes it as a representation of the healing that many need after difficult times. “For me, the song represents the healing that we all need and the optimism for the days ahead—our future,” Raphael said. “It speaks about our strength, our shared hope, and the love within our country.”

WHO is Raphael?

Raphael, an amateur singer who rose to fame by winning Israel’s Hakochav Haba (Rising Star) competition in January, brings personal experience to her performance. She is a survivor of the Nova music festival massacre on October 7, 2023, where Hamas terrorists killed 364 Israelis. Raphael narrowly escaped by playing dead and hiding for hours in a roadside bomb shelter near Kibbutz Be’eri.

Her story has since resonated worldwide, as she has shared her experiences at international forums, including the United Nations. Her participation in Eurovision 2025 is seen as an act of resilience and a testament to the unbreakable spirit of those affected by the tragedy.

The official music video for New Day Will Rise features Raphael surrounded by young people singing, dancing, and embracing in a grassy field. Many viewers have noted the resemblance to the Nova festival, making the video particularly poignant. The presence of red anemones, a flower symbolic of southern Israel, adds further meaning to the visuals.

_{(source: https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-unveils-new-day-will-rise-its-2025-eurovision-power-ballad/)}

Israel’s Eurovision entries have often faced political controversy, and New Day Will Rise is no exception. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the contest, approved the lyrics and video last month, ensuring compliance with its policy barring political content. This comes after Israel’s 2024 entry, October Rain, was initially rejected for its perceived references to the October 7 attack and had to be revised as Hurricane.

Raphael is set to compete in the second semifinal on May 15, aiming for a spot in the grand final on May 18. Given the geopolitical climate, protests and boycott calls are expected, as they were in previous years. However, Israeli supporters have historically rallied behind their contestants, as seen in 2024 when Eden Golan secured a strong fifth-place finish despite facing opposition.

Israel has a storied history in Eurovision, having participated since 1973 and winning four times: in 1978 (A-Ba-Ni-Bi by Izhar Cohen), 1979 (Hallelujah by Milk and Honey), 1998 (Diva by Dana International), and 2018 (Toy by Netta Barzilai). With New Day Will Rise, the country hopes to once again capture the hearts of voters and continue its tradition of powerful and memorable performances.

As the countdown to Eurovision 2025 begins, Yuval Raphael is determined to give her all on stage. “I want to give it a million percent, to make it the best possible so that everyone will be proud, and we’ll bring pride to this country,” she said.