Eretz Nehederet, Israel’s premier sketch comedy show that airs on Keshet 12, is well-known for its humor and entertainment. However, on Wednesday night, the show took a more emotional turn when Alon Ohel, a talented pianist who was held hostage by Hamas for two years, made an appearance. He was released on October 13 and performed the song "Under the Sky" while the cast sang along.
Ohel, who has vision problems due to being beaten by terrorists, wore a patch over one eye as he played the piano. The instrument was decorated with a yellow sign that read, "Alon, You're Not Alone." The song, an Israeli classic composed by David Broza and written by Meir Ariel, was particularly meaningful for the occasion. Its lyrics include lines like "We have time / Under the sky / In the meantime / We’re still here," and it concludes with the words, "Despite the gap / Despite the pain / Despite the sorrow / I love / And love / And love."
The emotional performance brought a sense of joy to a show that typically focuses on poking fun at Israeli politics. The episode began with a skit about a "Bring them home now" rally, but this time, it wasn't about hostages. Instead, it highlighted the ultra-Orthodox draft dodgers currently in jail, hosted by United Torah Judaism party leader Yitzhak Goldknopf and Shas head Aryeh Deri. This skit referenced a controversial comment made by Goldknopf three weeks prior, where he compared the short-term imprisonment of draft dodgers to the two-year ordeal of hostages held by Hamas, which led to public outrage.
A New York City sketch
The show also featured skits about the chaos among political opposition leaders and jokes about celebrities. For the first time ever, there was a sketch focused on the upcoming New York City mayoral election, specifically highlighting Democratic candidate Zohran Mamdani, who is expected to win. His candidacy has raised concerns among Jews in New York due to his strong anti-Zionist statements. Mamdani has refused to condemn the phrase "globalize the Intifada" and has been associated with Twitch streamer Hasan Piker, who claimed the U.S. deserved the 9/11 attacks and blamed Israel for the October 7 attack. On October 8, 2023, before Israel's military response to the attack, Mamdani criticized Israel for "occupation" and "apartheid" without condemning or even mentioning Hamas. His mother, filmmaker Mira Nair, has received millions from Qatar, a country that hosts Hamas leaders.
In the skit, Mamdani was portrayed with his signature grin, as a director coached him on making an ad to ease Jewish fears. However, he repeatedly mispronounced the words, saying "Happy Rosh Intifada" instead of "Happy Rosh HaShanah." The skit also referenced Mamdani's recent comments about an aunt who feared wearing her hijab on the New York subway after 9/11. This drew criticism for equating his aunt's experience with the suffering of thousands who died in the 2001 attacks. In the Eretz Nehederet skit, Mamdani initially expressed sympathy for Jewish suffering during the Holocaust, but then shifted to talking about his aunt's struggles. At the end, he concluded with a typical campaign sign-off, only to say, "I’m Zohran Mamdani, and I approved this massacre."
Wednesday night’s show also featured a visit from a familiar guest: US President Donald J. Trump. He spoke to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, and Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. The three Israeli political leaders met at the US military headquarters compound in Kiryat Gat, where some US soldiers are stationed. Trump, speaking via video from his trip to Asia, gave the Israeli government representatives direct instructions on what they could and couldn’t do in Gaza, ending the conversation with a humorous twist—making them do grueling pushups.
Amid the usual sharp wit and satire, the finale featuring Ohel playing the piano was a heartwarming moment. The cast members singing alongside him were visibly moved, adding a touching conclusion to an otherwise lighthearted show.