The Eurovision Song Contest held this year in Basel, Switzerland was a gathering of European and neighboring countries to have a peaceful song competition. Israel has won the competition four times in the past and finished in the top five numerous times. It is watched by millions of viewers and comes with much national pride.

In the past years, especially the last two years, this event has become politicized with countries asking for Israel to be banned. Many form rabid demonstrations in the city streets and cause lots of disruptions, including booing during performances. The Israeli delegation has traveled with a very strict security protocol.

Regardless, Israel won second place, much to the joy and pride of the country. Israel received the most phone-in votes from the worldwide public but did not win enough “jury” votes to be placed first. Austria won first place. Despite what the media promotes about Israel-hatred, the amount of votes received, even from countries whose governments hate Israel, was surprising.

Israel was represented by Yuval Raphael, who sang “New Day Will Rise,” a song about her journey surviving Hamas’ murderous intent to kill as many people as possible on October 7, 2023. On that day, she called her father from a bomb shelter near the Nova music festival as Hamas terrorists kept shooting inside. Her father told her to “play dead.” She hid under dead bodies for eight hours before the IDF came to rescue the few remaining survivors.

It should be noted that at about 2:30 a.m., a few minutes after Yuval Raphael was announced as second place winner, the Houthis launched a ballistic missile at central Israel, sending millions from their beds to bomb shelters.

Please pray for the nation of Israel, trying to heal and move forward from the horrors, memories, and fears fueled by the attacks on October 7, 2023 and continuing to this day.