EBU Rejects Vote-Rigging Claims as Israel’s Yuval Raphael Sparks Geopolitical Uproar

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) is under fire following allegations of vote rigging in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, sparked by Israeli singer Yuval Raphael’s standout performance in Basel, Switzerland, on Saturday, May 17, 2025, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Raphael, whose ballad “New Day Will Rise” resonated as a message of resilience after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack, secured second place overall, amassing a record-breaking 297 televoting points from viewers across Europe. However, his 14th-place ranking by professional juries fueled suspicions of irregularities, particularly from countries critical of Israel’s actions in the Gaza conflict.

Spain’s RTVE led the charge, demanding a detailed audit after Raphael received maximum points from Spanish voters, a result seemingly inconsistent with Spain’s political stance on Israel. Belgium’s VRT and Iceland’s RÚV echoed the call, with VRT’s Yasmine Van der Borght stating on Monday, “We have no indications that the points count was not done correctly, but we are asking for full transparency from the EBU. The question is whether the current voting system guarantees a fair reflection of the opinion of the viewers and listeners.” VRT hinted at reconsidering future participation, adding, “Without a serious response to our concerns regarding the Eurovision Song Contest, we are questioning our future participation.”

EBU Director Martin Green staunchly defended the contest’s integrity, asserting, “It is important to emphasize that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country’s result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.” He noted that an independent compliance monitor oversees both jury and public vote data to ensure accuracy. Eurovision’s system allows up to 20 votes per device, a mechanism Green claimed is rigorously monitored.

The controversy has intensified scrutiny on Eurovision’s voting process, with Raphael’s performance, celebrated for its emotional depth, becoming a flashpoint in geopolitical tensions. The EBU faces pressure to provide clarity to maintain trust in the contest’s fairness.