Idan Amadi speaks for the first time after being seriously injured in Gaza: "I arrived at the hospital burnt and sooty"/Niv Aharonson
The press conference of the singer and actor Idan Amadi, who was seriously injured in a fatal incident in the Gaza Strip that resulted in the death of several other fighters, was successful among many, and provoked emotional reactions.
Rightfully so.
A country in mourning, with a general distrust of institutions and symbols after the Black Sabbath, saw in him something she lacked, something she longed for: a man who is not cynical, who is not busy with his own ass but what he believes in, who is excited and does not recite, who points to what is really important.
When his press conference overshadows every hollow statement of another Israeli leader, it is no wonder that it also found its way to the place where all the main events of the week are talked about - "a wonderful country".
But with the rise of his character, played by Uri Lazarovitch, in the promos, an amazing thing happened.
In a way that is usually reserved only for especially senior clerics, the mere announcement of an imitation angers many even before they have seen more than a split second of it.
The creators of the program were accused of lack of tact and sensitivity.
How can you laugh at a wounded warrior, a "true hero", as someone wrote.
"I don't see Idan as an object of laughter or imitation," wrote another.
A third surfer summed up the discussion with the sentence: "There must be a limit to humor at some point."
Since the return of "Wonderland" after October 7, the question of the border of humor comes up again and again.
The very unfunny reality challenges the usually soft satire program, which fumbles its way, debating what is allowed and what is not, how to go around what is not terrible, and still score worthy goals.
A look at "Wonderful Land" in recent months is like a diary of such attempts, of constant movement along the changing borders of discourse, and sometimes also crossing them.
Therefore, in light of the angry early reactions, it is worth dwelling on the story of Idan Amadi - precisely because it is a particularly surprising case of a sacred cow.
The red line of humor.
Idan Amadi/Sagittarius 12
Well, if you ask the writers of "Great Country", you will find that they think exactly like the surfers.
The opening sketch of last night's show looks at me with the same tone of amazement.
In the skit, which takes place in a house in the heart of the Israeli bourgeoisie, the married couple played by Alma Zak and Viniv Biton watch Amadi's press conference.
"If there is one good thing that happened following my injury, it is the ability to be a messenger, to bring awareness to the difficulties and challenges that the wounded face," he says, and Zeke is elated-in love with him, only to see her partner having trouble holding a hot plate and eating the homemade cake, challenges that are much worse Fighting in Gaza and rehabilitation from a serious injury.
"Look what you've done. You finished us off, because of you we all look like idiots," Beaton tells him, illustrating the main claim against Amadi - he's too good.
"Sorry bro," Amadi replies from the screen, taking responsibility even for that.
"I speak to everyone, but also to you."
Beaton is still furious: "Do you know where you raised the bar? Both a fighter, also sensitive, also a singer, also a 'Fauda'. You took everything from us. My wife looks at me as if I'm handing out surplus because of you."
When "Amadi" tries to comfort him, it only makes the character angrier.
"Well, really, now you're also nice, so what?" he grumbled, "Shut up, do you even know what it's like to be mediocre? You'll never understand what the pain of ordinary people is."
There is of course no mockery here, on the contrary: it is absolute admiration for a man who has gained the status of almost a saint.
Even Netanyahu's character tries to steal some glory from me, but "Nir Davori" pushed him away: "I have to say honestly, you weren't even for a moment sedated and perfect."
It is doubtful that any character has ever received so much love in "Wonderland", perhaps ever.
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"Tactless and insensitive": "Great country" under attack for imitation of Idan Amadi
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The early outrage of the surfers and the fan skit signify the same thing: Amadi has become a national symbol, a sacred cow, and laughing at him is like hurting the public's feelings.
On the contrary: the only joke allowed is at our expense, those who will never be as good as him.
But what does that actually mean?
I pointed out here a few weeks ago the admiration I had already at the stage of the news reports about his injury, to the excited things said about him in the studios.
I argued that he had become a symbol of identification with the IDF, of the brotherhood of fighters and the righteousness of the road, and that the very fact that a symbol like him might be harmed threatens all these ideas, and thus undermines the public and the media that promotes them. This was the first stage.
The press conference, and the happy restoration So his, just amplify the symbol. The charismatic Amadi rose like a phoenix, as a collective talisman: he not only overcame the injury - his speech only illustrated how strong these values are for him, and maybe...
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