Gal Gadot Joins Eretz Nehederet for Split Election Night Special

The outcome of Tuesday's Knesset election left many Israelis waiting for a clear winner that never arrived. While the polls closed and exit polls revealed no definitive victory for either side, the nation turned to Channel 12 for entertainment and analysis. The network aired a two-part special of its long-running comedy series, Eretz Nehederet, which included a surprise appearance by Hollywood actress Gal Gadot.

The broadcast was divided to match the timing of the vote. The first segment aired before the polls closed, offering a lighthearted start to the night. The second segment followed the release of exit polls, which indicated that neither the government nor the opposition had secured enough seats to form a government immediately. This lack of a clear winner created a backdrop of suspense that the show's writers attempted to address with sketches and commentary.

Gal Gadot, who was born in Israel but has lived abroad for nearly 12 years, joined the regular cast for the first half of the broadcast. She appeared in a sketch as a passenger in the cab of Asher, a character played by Yuval Semo. The interaction played on Gadot's status as a famous Israeli living overseas. She told the character that she had returned specifically to vote, referencing the Jewish sage Hillel the Elder with the phrase, "If not now, when?"

During the conversation, Gadot spoke about the challenges of identifying as an Israeli in Hollywood. She noted that rising antisemitism made it difficult to be open about her background. She mentioned wearing masks in public and trying to explain the context of the conflict to American audiences. She also shared that she planned to return to Israel with her husband and four daughters and was building a house in the country.

The first half of the show featured several political parodies. One sketch depicted Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as professional wrestlers. They used props like a sawed-off shotgun and a large gold suitcase to represent their political tactics. Another segment mocked Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal, portraying him as distracted while writing a victory speech for Netanyahu. The show also referenced Netanyahu's recent use of an AI-generated image of Tel Aviv being hit by a nuclear bomb.

After the initial results suggested a stalemate, the tone of the second half shifted to reflect the uncertainty. The writers created sketches that highlighted the difficulty of forming a coalition. One scene showed opposition leaders Gadi Eisenkot, Naftali Bennett, and Avigdor Liberman playing a game show titled "Excuse the Promise." The format allowed them to walk back their earlier pledges not to work with certain religious or Arab parties.

The broadcast also addressed the performance of smaller parties. Characters representing the People of Israel Party, a joint list for Arab and ultra-orthodox voters, expressed frustration over failing to win enough seats to enter the Knesset. One character joked that he was the only Arab not elected, a nod to the stronger-than-expected results for other Arab-led lists. Meanwhile, a sketch showed a grim-faced Netanyahu at the defense headquarters, suggesting he was starting a war with Iran to consolidate his power.

The special ended without the host's usual sign-off praising the country. Instead, Eyal Kitzis handed the broadcast back to Channel 12 news anchor Yonit Levi. The abrupt transition underscored the unresolved nature of the election results and the ongoing political debate in the country.