‘Without the world’: ‘Eretz Nehederet’ song mocks gov’t’s standing abroad
Actors on Israeli satire show playing members of Netanyahu government, which is increasingly isolated on global stage, belt out take of 1985 charity benefit hit, ‘We are the world’
Israeli satirical show “Eretz Nehederet” aired a skit Wednesday featuring members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government singing a rendition of the 1985 charity benefit song, “We Are the World,” with new lyrics mocking the hardline coalition’s deteriorating international standing since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
The government’s version of the song is labeled, “Without the world — Yihye B’seder,” which is Hebrew for, “It’ll be okay.”
The skit aired days after Israel’s relations with the United States reached their lowest point in years, with the Biden administration allowing the passage of a UN Security Council resolution demanding a ceasefire and hostage release, leading Netanyahu to cancel plans to send a delegation to Washington and getting into a war of words with the White House.
Netanyahu’s office reportedly boasted that the public spat demonstrated strength to Hamas by showing that Israel wasn’t afraid to break with its closest ally and was determined to prosecute the war as it sees fit.
Wednesday’s skit featured the satirical show’s actors playing key members of the Netanyahu coalition along with the premier’s wife Sara and one of the government’s biggest supporters in the media, Yinon Magal.
“The time has come to sing loudly to the world and declare that we no longer need you,” begin the first words of the song sung by Netanyahu in a recording studio akin to the one used by America’s top vocalists when they gathered in 1985 to sing “We are the world” to raise money to combat famine in Africa.
“We have everything [we need] here, so we don’t need any more favors. Find someone else who will steal your towels,” Sara Netanyahu pipes in, apparently referencing reports of her shifty conduct at hotels abroad.
בלי העולם, יהיה בסדר. pic.twitter.com/oWtN24U8ZT
— ארץ נהדרת (@Eretz_Nehederet) March 27, 2024
The song continues with Foreign Minister Israel Katz declaring, “We’ll manage just fine without the United States.”
“Who needs an Air Force, missiles or an English lesson,” adds Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who was mocked for his English after a speech he gave while visiting the US last year.
“We have aid from God,” serenades Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu before firebrand National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir comes in with the chorus.
“Without the world — It’ll be alright,” he begins. “And we don’t need any favors from the Goyim, we’ll survive (bli neder),” he says, using the Hebrew word for “non-Jews and a religious term that means “no promises.”
The next verse is yodeled by Likud backbencher Tally Gotliv who declares, “You’re all antisemites. You’re full-on Nazis. So we’ll boycott you — suck on that!”
“You heard that right — we’ll take Waze away from you,” Shas chairman Aryeh Deri sings, referencing the Israeli-made navigation app. “You’ll be blind and lose your way on the roads.”
“No more Gal Gadot or [Lior] Suchard at [your] parties. You’ll have to read your own minds,” Magal sings regarding the Israeli-born actress and mentalist.
The whole group of lawmakers belts out the final chorus and verse together, singing, “The whole world can go drop dead. Because Am Yisrael Chai.”
“Wait a second, maybe we’ll make an exception for Dubai,” Transportation Minister Miri Regev chimes in as the song comes to an end.
