Israel’s satire show Eretz Nehederet, often described as the country’s version of Saturday Night Live (SNL), has poked fun at New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani.The parody mixes Jewish greetings with pro-Palestinian slogans and terrorist jargon.The sketch aired on Channel 12 on Wednesday. It ridiculed Mamdani’s recent Jewish New Year message, portraying him as tone-deaf toward the city’s Jewish community and supportive of terror groups.The episode comes just days before New York’s mayoral election on November 4, where Mamdani faces former governor Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
From ‘Intifada Tova ‘ to ‘Nagil Jihada’
The scene is set against the backdrop of a New York townhouse. A man impersonating Mamdani begins: “To my Jewish friends and neighbours, shalom. Let me start by wishing you a happy new year, or as you say in Hebrew, Intifada Tova!” A producer quickly corrects him: “It’s Shana Tova! You said Intifada.” Smiling, he responds, “Let’s do it again.”Intifada is an Arabic term meaning “uprising,” commonly used to describe Palestinian rebellions against Israeli control.The parody continues with the character saying, “Hey, to all my Jewish New Yorkers, tonight we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, and we will dance joyfully to the beloved song Jihada, Nagil Jihada.” Again, the producer interrupts: “I’m pretty sure it’s Hava Nagila.” The candidate nods and replies, “Of course.”Jihada is a play on the word jihad, an Arabic term meaning “struggle” or “holy war,” often misused in extremist contexts to refer to violent conflict.The next line said: “I want to reassure you, I embrace all cultures. I also love bagels, and I also love Hamas,” he says, prompting another correction from the producer: “Hummus!”
Mamadani’s ‘aunt row’
The character tries again: “My dear Jewish friends, I promise you I will fight antisemitism. I think of the Holocaust every day, that horrible time when Jews were transported by trains to concentration camps – and it always reminds me of how my aunt stopped taking the train because she was afraid to wear her hijab after 9/11.”This line references a recent remark made by Mamdani. He had said his aunt stopped using the subway after the September 11 attacks due to fear of wearing her headscarf in public. The comment was slammed by both Andrew Cuomo and US Vice President JD Vance, who accused Mamdani of using a misguided comparison.
Curtains fall
The parody concludes with the impersonated candidate announcing, “Vote for me, and together we will make New York City safer for Jews from Islamophobia!” The producer throws her notes and walks off set as the screen flashes: “Zohran Mamdani for Mayor.” The impersonator then signs off, saying, “I’m Zohran Mamdani, and I approve this massacre – uh, message.”Eretz Nehederet is known for skewering Israeli politicians, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as well as global figures such as Greta Thunberg.
NYC polls
Mamdani is a 34-year-old socialist currently leading in polls. His campaign to become New York’s first Muslim mayor has unfolded amid heightened tensions following the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.Cuomo is running as an independent after losing the Democratic primary. During the final mayoral debate, Cuomo accused Mamdani of failing to denounce the “globalised intifada,” while Sliwa went further, alleging he supported “global jihad.”
