Eurovision 2025: Israel's success sparks backlash and suspicion of voting manipulation

Israel’s success at this year’s Eurovision Song Contest over the weekend has sparked suspicion around the voting process. Spain’s public broadcaster has requested an audit of the results, and widespread condemnation has exploded online regarding the outcome.

For months, Spain has been persistent in its criticism of Eurovision’s inclusion of Israel in the competition, and has made multiple attempts to keep it from participating. 
  
In addition to Slovenia and Iceland, Spanish broadcaster RTVE communicated concerns to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) in April over the inclusion of Israel and its affiliates while it continues to attack and blockade the Gaza Strip.

After the results of the finale on Saturday, in which Israel came in second place after Austria in public voting, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called for Israel's exclusion from international cultural events such as Eurovision.

"We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture," Sanchez said. “I believe that no one was shocked three years ago when Russia was asked to withdraw from international competitions after it invaded Ukraine and not participate, for example, at Eurovision. Therefore, Israel should not do so either.”

Israel’s inclusion in the contest also impacted Spain’s performance, as its representative, Tommy Cash, came in third place, right behind Israel. 

Many were confused by the outpouring of votes Israel received from the European public, with its performance doing well even in countries that have been highly critical of Israel’s war on Gaza, like Ireland and Spain.  

Although the Spanish jury did not award Israel’s representative, Yuval Raphael, any points, Spanish viewers gave her the highest score. 

After the results were announced, RTVE said it would request a detailed audit of the public votes from the EBU. The report that was already provided did not meet the expectations of the Spanish broadcaster, as it lacked a country-by-country vote breakdown, according to MSN.

Spain's state broadcaster message ahead of Eurovision contest tonight in response to EBU’s threat to fine them after they remembered the more than 50,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza.

Bravo!
pic.twitter.com/5C7pVknZuP

— Leyla Hamed (@leylahamed) May 17, 2025

Other countries are also considering approaching the EBU for a voting audit, which could affect future editions of the contest.

In addition to their suspicions of the public voting process being manipulated, social media users were highly critical of Eurovision's inclusion of Israel in the contest. 

During a group performance, the Eurovision contestants sang the line, "Non-political, strictly neutral, doesn’t matter if you’re good or brutal," which caused a stir online. 

theyre basically implying they do consider israel to be "brutal" but they dont care like what the hell who thought this was a good idea

— oxyooo 🇺🇦 🇵🇸 (@oxyasss) May 13, 2025

Many responded by pointing out what they see as a double standard, asking why Russia was still prohibited from participating.

"Eurovision perfectly mirrors western hypocrisy and their fake values. Banned Russia for invading Ukraine but let Israel perform twice while they commit one of the most documented genocides in modern history," one social media user posted on X. 

The Israeli contestant, Raphael, was also under fire for posing for a picture in the same place where the founder of Zionism, Theodor Herzl, once posed for a picture. 

"Is it still apolitical @EBU_HQ @Eurovision?" one social media user wrote. 

Israel's contestant posing in tribute to the founder of zionism Theodor Herzl, a man who advocated for the ethnic cleansing of Palestine. Is it still apolitical @EBU_HQ @Eurovision ?#Eurovision2025 #UnitedByMusic pic.twitter.com/bqmfsZastH

— Verity Ritchie (@verilybitchie) May 17, 2025

Those who watched the contest live also contributed to the criticism, accusing Eurovision of layering fake cheers during Israel's performance. They posted videos of the audience booing as Raphael sang, which were not heard on air. 

Let's remember that the shouts of praise to Israel were an edited audio and that this was really heard#Eurovision pic.twitter.com/b3U1hYNcGC

— Yoruciita (@yoruciita) May 17, 2025

While many waved Palestinian flags, British protestors from the organisation, Youth Demand, attempted to storm the stage, in protest against Israel, while Raphael sang before they said they were "assaulted" by security as they stopped the disruption. 

"Just before the Israeli performer came on, a load of extra security was rolled out and so our plan slightly went out the window," one of the protestors said in a video statement. "We were faced with pretty grim aggression from the security, Eurovision staff and later on the police."

Later in the contest, as the public voted for the finale, some social media users posted that they were being shown advertisements to vote for Israel. 

"Got a youtube advert saying 'vote for Israel in Eurovision 2025, you can vote up to 20 times!' they're desperate," one post on X says.

The YouTube advert that was  shown to more than 25 million viewers was reportedly paid for by an Israeli government agency, according to some social media users. 

"Unfair" influence of voting (via bulk voting) is against the Eurovision's rules, which are listed on its website. 

Although it is permitted in the song contest to vote up to twenty times, some posts claim to have seen pro-Israel accounts on X say they voted more than the allowed amount.

This is how Israel almost won Eurovision. pic.twitter.com/Bux7IxOs71

— ADAM (@AdameMedia) May 18, 2025

In response to the many accusations of voting manipulation, pro-Israel social media users have argued that social media "is not real life" and that Israel received their votes from the "silent majority". 

Many have argued that Eurovision is a "propaganda tool" for Israel. 

"They're obviously losing the social media war, and it's their only way to convince Israelis that the world is still supporting the genocide," one social media user wrote on X.