Israeli viewers are 'tickled' by Sacha Baron Cohen's controversial caricature on his show Who is America

  • Sacha Baron Cohen's new show 'Who Is America' is stirring controversy
  • On show he's pranked and portrayed Republican politicians in a negative light 
  • Watchers in Israel, however, seem to be amused by his guise of an Israeli retired Colonel and faux counter terror instructor with a strong accent 
  • They say more of the ridicule in the show lies in the tricked Americans on show 
  • Some critics fear that Cohen's character - a conservative, staunch gun supporter - made lead American watchers to believe the caricature defines Israeli people

Sacha Baron Cohen's new show 'Who Is America' is stirring controversy 

Sacha Baron Cohen's new show 'Who Is America' is stirring controversy 

Sacha Baron Cohen has always been an actor surrounded by controversy with his crude humor and convincing performances. 

But his new Showtime show 'Who Is America' is making waves like never before, with its first three episodes targeting Republican politicians under the guise of Retired Colonel Erran Morad, an ex-Mossad agent and faux counter terrorism instructor.

Posing as Morad in a green uniform and a bushy unibrow, he has outed real politicians on hot button issues in the United States such as terror and gun violence, leading to backlash from his American audience.

But watchers in Israel, on the other hand, think it's hilarious.

'The reaction has mostly been astonishment about the accuracy of the portrayal. He really got some of our traits down,' Einav Schiff, a TV critic for the Yediot Ahronot newspaper.

'Everyone here knows an "Erran Morad" but I haven't recognized any outrage or embarrassment about the character. It's mostly been ridicule for these Americans who have fallen for him,' he added.

Baron Cohen, whose mother is Israeli, has the accent and mannerisms down pat, according to Israeli fans.  

On the show he acts as an ex-Mossad agent and faux counter terrorism instructor, pictured  right playing retired Israeli Colonel Erran Morad with former Vice President Dick Cheney

On the show he acts as an ex-Mossad agent and faux counter terrorism instructor, pictured  right playing retired Israeli Colonel Erran Morad with former Vice President Dick Cheney

He has pranked Republic politicians on hot button issues in the United States such as terror and gun violence, leading to backlash from his American audience, pictured on show

He has pranked Republic politicians on hot button issues in the United States such as terror and gun violence, leading to backlash from his American audience, pictured on show

His show has led to backlash for his critic on Republic politicians, pictured above showing Former Chief Justice Roy Moore (left) a faux Israeli tool that detects pedophiles and went haywire when passing over him. Moore's  been accused of sexual misconduct with 14-year-old

His show has led to backlash for his critic on Republic politicians, pictured above showing Former Chief Justice Roy Moore (left) a faux Israeli tool that detects pedophiles and went haywire when passing over him. Moore's  been accused of sexual misconduct with 14-year-old

His persona is so convincing he even fooled Dick Cheney, the former US Secretary of Defense, despite wearing a fake uniform with inverse Hebrew writing on it.

In his show he touched on terrorism by duping former Vice President Cheney into signing a waterboarding kit.

Shedding light on today's gun-violence issues, Morad convinced Senate majority leader Trent Lott to endorse a plan to arm kindergartners. 

And pointing to the nation's Islamophobia he caused a Georgia state representative to resign after he shouted racial slurs and exposed his rear end during a self-defense drill against homophobic jihadis. 

In his latest episode, he pranked disgraced Republican Senate candidate Roy Moore by showing him a faux Israeli tool that detects pedophiles that went haywire when passing over Moore, who has been accused of sexual misconduct with a 14-year-old.

Unenthused, Moore stormed out of the interview.

Following up he accused Baron Cohen of seeking to 'embarrass, humiliate, and mock' the Jewish state.   

But it's that type of lunacy that has mostly tickled Israelis.  

His humor has exposed the prejudices of his targets as well as uncovered stereotypes made of Israelis - that they're supposed staunch supporters on the religious right.  

In practice, most Israelis are secular, gay-friendly and, even with the country's mandatory military service, have little interest in firearms as recreation. Israeli gun laws are in fact quite stiff in comparison with America's. 

When Baron Cohen's character convinced politicians to sponsor a plan to arm kindergartners, former congressman Joe Walsh spoke in a following CNN interview saying he was duped by the program but always thought it was fishy. 

On the show he convinced politica

On the show he convinced politicians to endorse a plan to arm kindergartners, Baron Cohen pictured right in character 

Critics say that he is painting Israel in a bad light saying: 'Still, bad enough that Israel gets demonized for the things it actually does, you have to go and make horrifying fake stuff up?''

Critics say that he is painting Israel in a bad light saying: 'Still, bad enough that Israel gets demonized for the things it actually does, you have to go and make horrifying fake stuff up?''

'I'm thinking to myself "well this is kind of crazy, but it is Israel and Israel is strong on defense,"' he explained.

While many in Israel are humored by Baron Cohen's show, several think he may be propagating the wrong stereotype of the nation.  

'Yes, your satire was outrageously on point and Col. Erran Morad was spot on. Still, bad enough that Israel gets demonized for the things it actually does, you have to go and make horrifying fake stuff up?' wrote Allison Kaplan Sommer, an English-language columnist for the Haaretz daily. 

'Satire or not, I'm afraid the American public is going to be left with the impression, that we are, in fact, gun fans when the truth is our gun control is a million times stricter than in the U.S,' she added.

Baron Cohen, 46, is an observant Jew fluent in Hebrew and well read in Israeli politics and culture and has brought his knowledge into other comedic acts such as in Borat and Bruno.  

Dor Hillel, a 26-year-old former Israeli soldier, said he found the gullibility so astounding it took him a while to figure out what he was watching.

'Apparently these people are so naive that they really think we are like that,' he said. 

'These Americans will believe anything,' he added.