John Oliver skewers Israeli campaign ads

John Oliver aimed his caustic wit at the Israeli elections last week, specifically at the ridiculous nature of the parties’ campaign videos, on his HBO show “Last Week Tonight.”

“The single greatest campaign ad so far,” Oliver said, “is from the Yesh Atid party, which consists of — and this is true — a three-hour-long single shot of a man summarizing his party’s achievements while someone paints a mural behind him.”

The high point of the epic of tedium, which Yesh Atid called the “anti-viral video,” was when the presenter asks for and drinks a cup of water, the show host proclaimed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s ad claiming that the Islamic State group would invade Israel if a left-wing government were elected also entered Oliver’s crosshairs.

“I’m pretty sure if ISIL were going to take over Israel, they wouldn’t be politely waiting until after the elections,” Oliver said, referring to the group by one of its acronyms.

“Death to Israel — pending all precincts reporting,” the British comic joked. “Respect the process, guys. Stand back.”

Oliver also poked fun at Zionist Union list head Isaac Herzog for an ad in which he had his voice, which has been compared to that of a run-over squirrel, overdubbed by a booming announcer.

“How annoying is this guy’s actual voice if he’s being forced to do that,” Oliver asked. “Are we talking Pee-Wee Herman mid-orgasm? Ray Romano possessed by the ghost of a duck? Russell Crowe’s regular singing voice?”

When the comedian then played a clip of Herzog speaking without his trademark high, nasally pitch, he is flabbergasted. “That voice is fine!” Oliver said.

“It’s not a great sign of strong leadership that the first time someone criticizes your voice, you panic and go hire a stunt larynx,” he gibed.