Overview

• Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the 2023 Nova festival attack, secured second place at Eurovision 2025, winning the popular vote with 297 points but receiving only 60 jury points.
• Broadcasters from Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Finland have formally requested a voting audit, citing concerns over televote integrity and potential rule exploitation.
• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel's exclusion from Eurovision, comparing its situation to Russia's ban following the Ukraine invasion.
• Israeli government channels actively encouraged viewers to cast the maximum 20 votes for Raphael, raising questions about the fairness of the televoting system.
• The European Broadcasting Union has pledged to review feedback and discuss potential reforms for the 2026 contest, as geopolitical tensions continue to strain the competition's neutrality.