Gadot Returns to Israel for Satirical Skit as Election Results Stall

Gal Gadot stepped into a fictional taxi cab on Channel 12 to satirize a stalled Israeli election. The appearance occurred during a two part special of Eretz Nehederet, a long running sketch comedy series. The show broadcast as millions of Israelis waited for final tallies that indicated no clear winner.

Gadot, who has lived outside the country for nearly 12 years, used the platform to discuss her recent return. She stated that she and her husband, along with their four daughters, are currently building a home in Israel. Three of the children were born in the United States. She described the experience of being an Israeli and Jewish woman in Hollywood during a period of rising antisemitism.

"It's hard these days to be an Israeli abroad," Gadot told the character she was interacting with. She explained that she often wears a mask when going out in public. She noted that Americans need context because the reality on the ground differs from what they see on screens.

The special aired in two distinct segments. The first half went to air before the polls closed. The second half followed the release of exit polls. Those polls showed a divided result that left both major political blocs short of a decisive victory. This uncertainty allowed the writers to craft humor around the lack of a clear path to government formation.

In the primary sketch featuring Gadot, she played a passenger picked up by Asher, a cab driver character portrayed by Yuval Semo. Asher is a regular on the show who is known for his talkative nature. He was surprised to find the Hollywood star in his vehicle. He asked if she had returned to vote or to perform in a singing competition. Gadot confirmed her purpose was to vote.

Earlier that day, Gadot posted an image on social media showing herself at a polling station. She indicated she supported an opposition party but did not name it on air. When asked, she whispered her choice to the driver. The sound was bleeped out when he attempted to announce it over a megaphone. She concluded the interaction by quoting Hillel the Elder: "If not now, when?"

The show also targeted specific political figures with satirical props. Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party, was depicted wielding a sawed off shotgun. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was shown carrying a gold suitcase, a reference to Qatari funds transferred to Hamas. He also held a toy mushroom cloud, mocking an AI image he shared during the campaign that showed Tel Aviv under attack.

Naftali Bennett, head of the B'Yachad Party, was teased for missing his chance to vote while attending informal discussion groups with older citizens. Eisenkot was shown struggling to connect with young voters alongside an influencer. Former prime ministers Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin, Menachem Begin, and Ariel Sharon appeared in a sketch confused by modern AI commercials.

The second half of the broadcast focused on the post election gridlock. Eisenkot, Bennett, and Avigdor Liberman of Yisrael Beytenu were cast as contestants on a game show. They tried to walk back their campaign promises not to form coalitions with Arab or ultra-Orthodox parties. Ofer Winter and Yoseph Haddad of the People of Israel Party expressed frustration after their party missed the threshold for Knesset entry.

Haddad expressed surprise that he appeared to be the only Arab candidate who did not win a seat. This comment referenced the stronger than expected performance of other Arab parties in the election. The special concluded without the host's traditional sign off about the country's character. Instead, Eyal Kitzis handed the broadcast directly to news anchor Yonit Levi.