From Newsweek Reuters and YNet news
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, who survived Hamas’ 2023 attack on Israel, faced protests including an alleged throat-slitting gesture during the Eurovision’s opening event in Basel, Switzerland, over the weekend.
In a statement to Newsweek, a Kanton Basel-Stadt police spokesperson wrote, “The Cantonal Police is aware of the incident and has drawn up a report for the responsible prosecution authorities.”
The Israel Broadcasting Corporation filed a complaint with the Swiss police after one protester allegedly made a throat-slitting gesture at Raphael during the opening day, Israeli broadcaster Kan wrote in a statement.
“The incident occurred during the delegation parade,” the statement reads. “The corporation also contacted the European Broadcasting Union and asked them to take action to identify the young man (who was wearing a keffiyeh head scarf and holding a Palestinian flag ) who made the slaughter gesture and spat at the members of the delegation.”
During the ceremony, protesters waved Palestinian flags and held signs reading “No applause for genocide” and “Singing while Gaza burns,” a sign of frustration that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) allowed Israel to participate in the competition. Last year, Israeli singer Eden Golan skipped Eurovision’s “turquoise carpet” event.
Irish national broadcaster RTÉ asked the EBU for a discussion on Israel’s inclusion. Its director general, Kevin Bakhurst, said he was “appalled by the ongoing events in the Middle East and by the horrific impact on civilians in Gaza, and the fate of Israeli hostages”. Spain and Slovenia’s broadcasters also asked for a discussion.
Last week, more than 70 former Eurovision contestants signed a letter calling on the organisers to ban Israel from the competition.
Raphael, who is performing her song “New Day Will Rise” at the competition, was among those who survived the October 7 attack. She and her friends took refuge in a concrete bomb shelter at the side of a road. Around 50 people were crammed in, lying on top of each other. Ms Raphael was one of only 11 people in the shelter to survive. She hid under a pile of dead bodies for eight hours until they were rescued.
“It’s something I deal with every day,” she told the BBC. “It feels like a personal win, just to be having this experience and representing my country and doing it with such pride.”
Ms Raphael’s professional singing career started after the attack. “I wished for myself to be happy and to really understand the gift that I had been given, and that’s to live,” she says. “To have more experiences, to be happy and to live fully.”
On Thursday, the 24-year-old will sing her song, New Day Will Rise, at the Eurovision semi-final with shrapnel still in her leg.
The rules of the European Broadcasting Union – which is in charge of Eurovision – means no political statements can be made. The singer won’t describe what happened to her at Nova during the run-up to the competition. She previously gave testimony about her experience to the United Nations.
Yuval Raphael says she had been frightened by pro-Palestinian protests and security concerns surrounding Israel’s participation in the competition, but was “focusing on the love” shown by global fans. “I’ve been mentally preparing for this,” Raphael told Reuters in an interview on Monday following her appearance at the contest’s opening ceremony on Sunday, which was disrupted by protesters.
She said they had done a few rehearsals with sounds in the background so she could practise with distractions. Asked if that was upsetting, she told the BBC she had a lot of emotions she was putting aside to stay focused.
Nevertheless, Israeli fans have been warned by their country’s National Security Council not to wear Jewish or Israeli symbols while attending Eurovision.
Assaf Mishayev, the Jewish lead singer representing the Muslim country Azerbaijan at Eurovision, expressed his support for Israeli representative Yuval Raphael, just moments before he taking the stage for the Eurovision semi-finals. Mishayev, who was ranked 13th in the odds for Tuesday night’s semi-final and was not expected to qualify for the final, did not shy away from the many journalists waiting for him in the press area. He continued to express empathy for the Israeli representative.
“The Eurovision brings people together: the music, the people—the musicians here are one family. I want to wish Yuval good luck. I love her, and with God’s help, everything will be fine.” Mishayev and his band performed Tuesday evening, and did not make it into the finals.
