Israel's Eurovision result sparks outrage over genocide whitewashing, 'voting manipulation'

Israel's second-place finish at the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest has ignited widespread controversy across Europe, sparking accusations of vote manipulation, political favouritism, and double standards within the competition.

Yuval Raphael, who represented Israel with the song "New Day Will Rise", received the highest number of public votes - 297 points in total, but ultimately placed second due to a weak jury score.

The song tied with Ukraine for 14th place in the jury vote, receiving just 60 points, while Austria, which topped the jury rankings and came fourth in the public vote, was declared the overall winner.

Raphael, a survivor of the 7 October attack on the Nova music festival, garnered surprisingly strong support from countries such as Spain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

The result prompted scrutiny of the televoting system, with some observers suggesting that sponsored ads and organised bulk voting may have influenced the outcome.

"It is very surprising," said Zoë Lawson, chairperson of the Irish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, in comments to The New Arab. "I know the Spanish broadcaster is requesting an audit of the televoting. Maybe some voters voted multiple times, and people who objected to Israel's participation simply boycotted the vote."

Under Eurovision rules, viewers can vote up to 20 times via the official app, SMS, or phone, with each vote costing around €0.99.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which oversees the contest, claims the voting system, which is managed by the Germany-based Pan-European Response Platform (PERP), is equipped to detect and block irregular voting patterns.

"Honestly, I don’t see how Israel placed so high in the public vote, especially with support from countries like Ireland," Lawson added.

Just a day before the Eurovision final, tens of thousands of demonstrators marched in Dublin as part of Ireland's national protest for Palestine.

Pro-Palestinian chants and signs were also visible outside the contest venue in Basel, Switzerland, where hundreds rallied under slogans such as "No stage for genocide" and "Boycott apartheid Israel".

During Raphael's jury rehearsal, audible boos were heard inside the venue, although they were absent from the subsequent press rehearsal.

Spain leads calls for Israel's expulsion

Spain has emerged as one of the most vocal critics of Israel's participation in the contest. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said on Monday that "Israel should be excluded from Eurovision," comparing its inclusion to the ban on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

"We cannot apply double standards," Sánchez said, denouncing Israel’s role in the mass killing of civilians in Gaza.

Spain's public broadcaster RTVE defied EBU guidelines by airing a pro-Palestinian message during the live final: "When it comes to human rights, silence is not an option. Peace and justice for Palestine."

Left-wing Spanish parties Podemos and Izquierda Unida condemned Israel's presence, calling it "immoral" and "indecent" that a state accused of genocide was not only allowed to compete but received top scores from European audiences. They also slammed the EBU for threatening to fine RTVE for its public stance.

Podemos co-spokesperson Pablo Fernández described Israel as a "genocidal state" and said he was "embarrassed" that it received the maximum public vote from Spain. He linked the result to what he called "a coordinated far-right campaign to boost the Zionist state".