As with last year, the evidence is clear that they are using it for a state backed propoganda campaign. They are in Asia anyway. Eurovision is supposed to be just a fun cultural event to give Europeans some sense of connection. Australia got in because they were culturally obsessed with ABBA, and so Eurovision too. They are in the spirit of it. Israel... It was always politics, but not the fun politics Eurovision is supposed to be scandalised by. EBU fact-checking network investigates Eurovision 2025 voting drive sponsored by an Israeli government agency Posted onMay 20, 2025 byJordi Pedra A recent investigation by the EBU’s independent fact-checking network, Spotlight, has looked into how a government-linked Israeli agency orchestrated a digital ad campaign aimed at increasing votes for Israel’s entry in the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The Israeli artist, Yuval Raphael, ultimately secured second place after amassing 297 points from the public vote — the highest televote score of the evening. Israel used institutional advertising to incentivise voting According to the findings, the Israeli Government Advertising Agency — responsible for promotional work with public bodies and state-affiliated companies — ran targeted ads via Google platforms in the lead-up to the Eurovision final, held in Basel, Switzerland. These ads guided viewers on how to vote for Raphael’s entry, “New Day Will Rise.” Additionally, a YouTube channel launched on April 20 uploaded 89 videos between May 6 and 16, aimed at audiences in 35 countries. These videos, which collectively reached over 8.3 million views, featured Raphael herself urging people to vote for her, often speaking in different languages and emphasising her performance numbers: 14 in the semi-final and 04 in the final. The EBU report confirmed that there was no indication of AI usage in these clips, suggesting Raphael’s direct involvement. On May 6, 16 videos were released targeting specific nations — including 12 countries that competed in Israel’s semi-final (Armenia, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Georgia, Greece, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro and Serbia). The day before the final, May 16, the channel uploaded an additional 73 videos calling for support from 35 different countries. The ads were linked to a verified government account via the Google Ads Transparency Centre, although the YouTube channel itself lacked an official governmental tag. Spotlight’s investigation notes that other countries also ran advertising campaigns, including Malta, Greece, Albania, Poland, Armenia and France. Some of these were run by the artists themselves via their own social platforms, and some were promoted via the competing broadcaster in the territory — but with no link to their respective governments. The EBU has repeatedly shut down all calls for Israel to be removed from Eurovision over the country’s actions in Gaza, where more than 52,000 people have been killed since October 2023. They state that the event is a competition between public broadcasters rather than governments, noting the contest must remain apolitical. However, this government-funded marketing campaign raises questions on that statement. For many, this is not in fact breaking news. The same targeted campaign was observed last year. In 2024, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated an international effort to boost public votes during the Eurovision Song Contest. This was confirmed by David Saranga, then serving as Acting Deputy Director for Public Diplomacy. Saranga admitted the ministry had reached out to pro-Israel communities abroad as part of a targeted initiative. The campaign, described as “organised and dedicated,” helped Israel’s entry “Hurricane” secure 323 points in the televote — the second-highest of the night — finishing fifth overall. Speaking to Ynet at the time, the minister confirmed: “It is true that we, as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, acted among friendly audiences to increase voting.” The effort included a global promotional push for artist Eden Golan, with digital ads on platforms like YouTube and even a billboard placement in New York’s Times Square. Israeli diplomatic missions across Europe were also instructed to help publicise the entry and mobilise support in their respective countries. EBU’s stance at the moment As the aftermath of Eurovision 2025 continues to spark debate, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has addressed concerns raised by several national broadcasters, including Spain’s RTVE and Belgium’s VRT. Martin Green, Director of the Eurovision Song Contest, has spoken out in defence of the contest’s voting procedures, calling them among “the most advanced in the world”. With the contest in Basel now concluded, Green confirmed that the EBU will initiate a comprehensive review with all participating broadcasters. “We remain in constant contact with our members and take their concerns seriously,” he stated, adding that feedback will be incorporated into the planning for the 70th edition of the event next year. Green also stressed the robust mechanisms in place to ensure voting transparency and fairness. “Each country’s results are thoroughly checked by a dedicated team, and we work with an independent compliance monitor to detect and prevent any irregularities,” he noted. The EBU’s official voting partner, Once, has verified that valid public votes were successfully recorded in all participating countries and across the Rest of the World category during the Grand Final. RTVE and VRT have noted that, whilst they believe this year’s vote count was done correctly, their are concerns over its fairness. The broadcasters argue that allowing viewers to cast up to 20 votes creates room for coordinated campaigns and political influence, distancing Eurovision from its cultural and artistic focus.
Israel's Eurovision result prompts questions over voting 11 hours ago Ian Youngs Culture reporter https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckg77pxj2mno EPA Yuval Raphael flew the flag for Israel at this year's song contest in Switzerland Israel's success in the public vote at last weekend's Eurovision Song Contest has prompted calls from a string of countries to examine the results and voting system. Singer Yuval Raphael came top of the viewer vote on Saturday with her ballad New Day Will Rise, but finished second overall to Austria when jury scores were also taken into account. Broadcasters in Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Iceland and Finland have since raised concerns or questions about the public vote, with some requesting an audit. Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) said the vote had been independently checked and verified, that they took any concerns seriously. Israel was ranked joint 14th by the national juries, but shot up the leaderboard thanks to the results of the phone and online vote. Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom were among the countries whose viewers awarded Israel the maximum 12 points, with Ireland and Finland giving 10. Irish broadcaster RTE has asked for a full breakdown of the voting from organisers. That came after Spanish broadcaster RTVE said it would request an investigation of the results and a review of the televoting system. Viewers can currently vote up to 20 times each by phone, text or app. Katia Segers, a Flemish MP, said: "A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation. "Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated." Political tensions A spokesperson for Flemish public broadcaster VRT said: "We have no indication that the counting of the televotes wasn't carried out correctly, but we are asking for complete transparency on the part of the EBU. "The question is above all whether the current system guarantees a fair reflection of the opinion of viewers and listeners." Finland's YLE said: "We will definitely ask the EBU whether it is time to update these rules or at least examine whether the current rules allow for abuses." On Tuesday, Dutch public broadcasters Avrotros and NPO issued a statement saying the contest was "increasingly influenced by societal and geopolitical tensions". Israel's involvement "raises the question of whether Eurovision still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event", they said. In response, the contest's director Martin Green said organisers were "in constant contact with all participating broadcasters" and "take their concerns seriously". "We can confirm that we have been in touch with several broadcasters since Saturday's Grand Final regarding voting in the competition," he continued. There will now be a "broad discussion" with participating broadcasters "to reflect and obtain feedback on all aspects of this year's event", he said. "It is important to emphasise 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. "An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result. "Our voting partner Once has confirmed that a valid vote was recorded in all countries participating in this year's Grand Final and in the Rest of the World." Eurovision News, which is operated by the EBU, said an agency of the Israeli government paid for adverts and used state social media accounts to encourage people to vote for the Israeli entry. Mr Green said that did not break the rules.