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ISRAEL AT WAR - DAY 622

Amy Spiro

Amy Spiro

Amy Spiro is a reporter and writer with The Times of Israel
Austrian singer Johannes Pietsch, known as JJ, celebrates with the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest trophy after winning the grand final at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel on May 18, 2025. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
May 22, 2025, 10:43 pm
Austrian Eurovision winner says he hopes Israel will be barred from contest next year
Amid backlash, JJ apologizes ‘if my words were misunderstood,’ while Austrian public broadcaster clarifies singer’s comments ‘reflect only his personal opinion’
By Amy Spiro and Agencies
Israel's Yuval Raphael performs 'New Day Will Rise' during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, on May 17, 2025. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
May 21, 2025, 2:37 pm
Eurovision organizers dismiss claims of voter fraud after Israel tops televote
Spain, Belgium, Finland cast doubt on Yuval Raphael’s popularity; demand ‘transparency’ from EBU, which asserts there were no ‘suspicious or irregular voting patterns’
By Amy Spiro
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael performs 'New Day Will Rise' during the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, at the St. Jakobshalle arena in Basel, Switzerland, on May 17, 2025. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
May 18, 2025, 2:53 pm
Voters turned out in droves for Israel at Eurovision, but the juries… not so much
A major win in 2nd place: Yuval Raphael won the popular vote in 12 countries, finishing higher than Eden Golan last year; gap between juries, public is not uncommon at song contest
By Amy Spiro
Yuval Raphael from Israel performs the song 'New Day Will Rise' during the Grand Final of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 17, 2025. (AP/Martin Meissner)
May 18, 2025, 2:57 am
Israel’s Yuval Raphael tops Eurovision public vote, finishes in 2nd place as Austria wins
Security blocks protesters who attempt to rush stage during Israel’s performance; ‘Thank you Europe, Am Yisrael Chai,’ says singer after powerful rendition of ‘New Day Will Rise’
By Amy Spiro
Yuval Raphael from Israel performs 'New Day Will Rise' at the second semifinal of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest, in Basel, Switzerland, May 15, 2025. (AP/Martin Meissner)
May 16, 2025, 2:01 am
Israel’s Yuval Raphael advances to Eurovision grand final after soaring performance
Singer, a survivor of the Nova festival massacre, says she managed to spot in the crowd the friends she made in the roadside bomb shelter, and ‘it gave me so much strength’
By Amy Spiro
Palestinians line up to get a ration of hot food from a charity kitchen set up at the Islamic University campus in Gaza City on May 12, 2025. (Omar AL-QATTAA / AFP)
May 14, 2025, 3:00 pm
Daily Briefing May 14: Day 586 – Famine in Gaza? UN-linked group admits data not strong
Legal reporter Jeremy Sharon on a new Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report claiming famine looms; Amy Spiro on 60 years of Israel-Germany ties – and the Eurovision
By Amanda Borschel-Dan, Jeremy Sharon and Amy Spiro
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael representing Israel on the turquoise carpet next to the Basel Town Hall during the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, on May 11, 2025. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
May 13, 2025, 7:39 am
Eurovision kicking off in Basel with glitz, schmaltz and little love for Israel
Yuval Raphael expected to face boos and protests during competition’s second semifinal Thursday, though organizers have steadfastly resisted calls for Nova survivor’s ouster
By Amy Spiro
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (R) welcomes President Isaac Herzog on May 12, 2025 at the Chancellery in Berlin, Germany. (Tobias SCHWARZ / AFP)
May 13, 2025, 1:10 am
In Berlin, Herzog lauds 60 years of German-Israel ties, even as Gaza war casts shadow
President is first foreign leader to be hosted by newly elected chancellor, who calls countries’ friendship a ‘great treasure’; German president urges Israel to resume aid to Gaza
By Amy Spiro
Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, representing Israel with the song, 'New Day Will Rise,' walks on the turquoise carpet next to the Basel Town Hall, with protesters' Palestinian flags behind, during the opening ceremony of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel on May 11, 2025. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
May 11, 2025, 11:48 pm
Israel’s Yuval Raphael and her team met by protests, threat as Eurovision week kicks off
Kan files police complaint after man makes throat-slitting gesture and spits at Israeli delegation; Palestinians flags fly as participants walk ‘turquoise carpet’ to open contest
By Amy Spiro, AFP and ToI Staff
A sign for the Eurovision Song Contest is seen on the St. Jakobshalle arena that will host the 2025 edition of the competition, April 30, 2025. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP)
May 9, 2025, 12:14 am
Israel warns travelers to Eurovision to avoid protests, not show Jewish, Israeli symbols
With anti-Israel rallies expected in Basel, Switzerland during contest next week and security high, Israelis warned to ‘stay away from these centers of friction and demonstrations’
By Lazar Berman and Amy Spiro
Yuval Raphael, winner of 'Rising Star' and Israel's 2025 Eurovision contestant, speaks to the media after her win in Neve Ilan, near Jerusalem, January 22, 2025. (Oren Ben Hakoon/Flash90)
May 6, 2025, 10:53 pm
Dozens of former Eurovision participants call to bar Israel from 2025 competition
EBU director rejects letter, says contest promotes ‘inclusion through music,’ as Yuval Raphael holds her first rehearsal in Basel, Switzerland ahead of next week’s show
By Amy Spiro
Israel's 2025 Eurovision contestant Yuval Raphael (Shai Franco/Tedy Productions)
May 6, 2025, 1:48 am
After surviving Nova, Israel’s Eurovision hopeful is ready to ‘give my dreams a chance’
Yuval Raphael, who’ll represent Israel with ‘New Day Will Rise’ in Basel next week, adopts a carefully apolitical tone ahead of the highly charged contest: ‘I’m 100% focused on my song’
By Amy Spiro
Most of this year's Independence Day torch-lighters pose for a photo outside the Knesset with Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana and Transportation Minister Miri Regev, April 28, 2025. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)
April 30, 2025, 9:46 am
‘Bridges of Hope’: The torch-lighters at Israel’s 77th Independence Day celebration
Annual event features freed hostage Emily Damari, cultural icons Zehava Ben and Omri Casspi, and more controversial figures Dana International and Ben Shapiro
By Amy Spiro
The Times of Israel's Those We Have Lost project
April 29, 2025, 4:37 pm
What Matters Now to The Times of Israel: That all Oct. 7 fallen are remembered
ToI editors Amanda Borschel-Dan and Amy Spiro delve into the backstory behind our ongoing Those We Have Lost project, which has so far written the stories of 1,100 individuals murdered by Hamas
By Amanda Borschel-Dan and Amy Spiro
Reuma Weizman, wife of Israel's then-president Ezer Weizman, during a special session of the Knesset on October 27, 1994 in Jerusalem. (AP/Joe Marquette)
April 15, 2025, 7:41 am
Eyewitness to history and former first lady, Reuma Weizman dies age 99
Post-WWII, the humanitarian aided orphaned Holocaust survivor children in Germany and later leveraged her position to open the President’s Residence for underprivileged Israelis
By Amy Spiro
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