Gal Gadot Joins Eretz Nehederet for Split-Screen Election Night Special

More than 70,000 Israelis returned from abroad to vote in Tuesday's national election, a detail that anchored a sketch on Channel 12's comedy show Eretz Nehederet. The two-part broadcast featured a special appearance by Gal Gadot, the Israeli-born Hollywood actress, who interacted with the show's regular cast during the final hour of voting.

The show split its runtime into two segments. The first aired before the polls closed, while the second followed the release of exit polls that indicated an inconclusive result. Neither the opposition nor the governing coalition secured a definitive victory, leaving the nation in a state of political suspense. Gadot's presence provided a focal point for the initial segment, where she engaged in a comedic dialogue with Asher, a character played by Yuval Semo.

Asher is depicted as a cabbie who speaks his mind. He was visibly surprised when Gadot entered his vehicle at the airport. Their conversation touched on the emotions of expatriates returning to vote. Gadot noted that she had lived abroad for almost 12 years, a period during which she starred in two Wonder Woman films and approximately a dozen other movies. She told the cabbie she had backed one of the opposition parties, though she did not specify which one on screen.

Gadot discussed the challenges of representing Israel in the entertainment industry. She said it is difficult to be an Israeli and a Jew in Hollywood amid rising antisemitism. She mentioned wearing masks in public as a precaution and working to provide context for American audiences regarding the country's situation. She stated that she planned to return to Israel with her husband and four daughters, three of whom were born in the United States, to build a house in the country.

The first half of the broadcast included sketches critiquing political figures. Gadi Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu were portrayed as professional wrestlers. Eisenkot wielded a sawed-off shotgun, while Netanyahu threw a large gold suitcase, a reference to cash transfers from Qatar to Hamas. In another segment, Channel 12 analyst Amit Segal appeared distracted while writing a victory speech for Netanyahu. The show also mocked Naftali Bennett for missing his voting window due to campaign events with older citizens.

The second half addressed the aftermath of the vote. A sketch showed opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Liberman playing a game show where they attempted to retract campaign promises regarding coalition partners. Yoseph Haddad of the People of Israel Party expressed disbelief that his party failed to enter the Knesset, noting that other Arab parties performed better than expected. Another sketch depicted a grim-faced Netanyahu in a defense headquarters, claiming he was launching a war with Iran to solidify his power.

The broadcast concluded with host Eyal Kitzis handing the program back to Channel 12 news anchor Yonit Levi. This deviation from the show's usual sign-off about Israel being a wonderful country reflected the uncertain political outcome. The writers of Eretz Nehederet crafted these segments to offer humor amidst a divisive campaign and the prospect of continued political uncertainty.