Israel’s popular satirical television program Eretz Nehederet returned this week with a blend of political humor and cultural commentary, featuring segments that addressed recent national events alongside the upcoming elections.
The premiere episode included a surprise appearance by Hollywood actress Sydney Sweeney, who portrayed a fictionalized version of herself, humorously singing Israel’s national anthem, “Hatikvah,” in Hebrew. This cameo referenced ongoing rumors about her conversion to Judaism in preparation for marriage to music manager Scooter Braun. Sweeney’s character struggled comically with the lyrics but affirmed her commitment to adopting more modest roles in future Israeli advertisements, including one for supermarket chain Rami Levy. This light-hearted introduction stood out amid a show otherwise focused on domestic politics and social issues.
The program’s closing sketch was a parody of the recent attempted hijacking on a Flydubai flight, incorporating references to the Israeli television series Fauda. Actor Lior Raz reprised a variation of his well-known role as a counterterrorism operative, portraying Yaniv Hayoun, the passenger who helped thwart the attack. The sketch employed typical Eretz Nehederet satire by humorously arming a plumber with wrenches to subdue the hijacker, blending real-life events with fictional humor.
Much of the episode concentrated on the political arena, lampooning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his main challenger, former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Netanyahu’s delayed responses to debate invitations were ridiculed, with Eisenkot mocking the prime minister for a notably late appearance. Netanyahu responded by suggesting that following Eisenkot’s advice would have ended the recent conflict before the deaths of Hamas leaders, mistakenly including singer Dolly Parton among casualties before clarifying it was “collateral damage.”
Transportation Minister Miri Regev also came under comedic scrutiny over her handling of foreign pilots entering Israel in light of the hijacking attempt, including a situation involving a pilot from Oman. The show depicted her dismissing responsibility for the near-incident and confusing the origin of the pilot with the Ukrainian city of Uman, a site of religious pilgrimage.
Opening the episode was a satirical retelling of Homer’s “The Odyssey,” recast to reflect the experiences of a Reserve soldier returning home after 500 days of service. The soldier’s journey included surreal encounters with characters representing political figures and societal groups, such as Prime Minister Netanyahu portrayed as Apollo and MK Tally Gotliv as a siren. The storyline highlighted the personal and economic toll of prolonged military service, culminating in an ironic twist where the soldier is met not by family but by Sara Netanyahu, who informs him of renewed conscription.
This installment of Eretz Nehederet combined sharp political satire with broader social commentary, reflecting the country’s ongoing struggles with security, governance, and election-related tensions. With national elections approaching, the program’s tone is expected to grow increasingly incisive.