Herzliya, Israel - Benjamin Netanyahu was cursed as a child to be Israeli prime minister for eternity, his only chance to break the spell to sabotage the country and become its worst leader ever.
This is the secret behind Netanyahu's political longevity as portrayed by Eretz Nehederet, Israel's favourite sketch show which has been revelling in the run-up to next week's general election when the Israeli leader is seeking a third consecutive term.
The programme -- whose title translates as "A Wonderful Country" -- has been running on Israeli prime time for 12 seasons, its tongue-in-cheek approach bringing some much-needed comic relief to the often dour world of Israeli politics.
But it is in the run-up to the March 17 vote that the show has struck upon its greatest inspiration yet: "Bibi" Netanyahu himself.
"It's a lot of responsibility to play the prime minister," says Mariano Idelman, who portrays the Israeli leader on the show.
"Me, I have to respect him. The writers, not so much."
It is not only Netanyahu who receives a weekly skewering in this madcap, half-hour rumpus of news and slapstick comedy.
"Everyone is targeted. The left, the right... no one is spared," says actress Shani Cohen, who plays centrist candidate Tzipi Livni.
In its studios in northern Tel Aviv, hundreds of fans scramble to take selfies with lookalikes of Livni, Netanyahu and Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas.
The key to the show's success, according to presenter Eyal Kitsis, is to be as close to reality as possible.
He plays the host interviewer, a serious foil putting questions to the "politicians" who respond with farce.
"We are taken very seriously, people watch us as if they were watching a news programme," he says.
AFP
