In an unexpected twist, Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ramped up the excitement for the Eurovision Song Contest by urging his social media followers to support the country’s representative, Yuval Raphael. Just moments before her performance in Basel, Switzerland, Netanyahu posted on Instagram, including a catchy call-to-action for his 1.5 million followers: “Vote #04 — New Day Will Rise” and even encouraged them to vote 20 times, the maximum allowed under the contest's rules.
This rallying cry came during a tense time, as Israel was escalating its military efforts in Gaza while simultaneously engaging in cease-fire negotiations with Hamas. It's intriguing that amid such serious matters, Eurovision—a vibrant pop event—gained significant attention from the government, illustrating its growing importance in promoting Israel on the global stage.
Netanyahu's appeal was part of a larger campaign orchestrated by pro-Israel groups to bolster support for Raphael. This initiative leveraged social media, email outreach, and YouTube advertisements to rally Eurovision fans around the world. Despite garnering the most public votes, Israel's chances of winning fluctuated dramatically during the show's finale, ultimately falling short against Austria, which had performed better with expert juries.
As fans reflect on the colorful spectacle of Eurovision, it's clear that the intersection of politics and pop culture continues to shape the narratives surrounding Israel today.
