The latest South Park episode, which aired on Wednesday night in the US after a one-week production-related delay, focused mainly on the war in Gaza and introduced a satirical depiction of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. This marks the first time the satirical animated series has directly addressed the recent Gaza war, and the episode, "Conflict of Interest," the fifth in the series' 27th season, is notably unflattering to Israel.
In the 22–minute episode, for those familiar with the long-running hit series, the "bromance" between Donald Trump and Satan continues, and Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr is also mocked (he tumbles down a staircase, eats a poisoned bowl of soup, and ultimately ends up in the hospital). However, the episode's climax takes place in Israel, after Cartman introduces the boys to a controversial betting app that asks, "Will Kyle Broflovski's mother (who is Jewish) bomb Gaza and hit a Palestinian hospital?". After Kyle furiously asks Cartman, "Why would my mom ever destroy a Palestinian hospital?!" and the latter replies, "Because... she's Jewish?", events take a turn.
Kyle demands that Cartman remove the bet on his mother. Cartman explains that he is not responsible for the bet and has no intention of participating since the chance of the mother actually bombing Gaza is remote. An angry Kyle sets out to investigate the matter. In the meantime, Cartman tells Kenny, "Wow, you just mention the Gaza issue to a Jew and they immediately lose it. Maybe the probability (that Kyle's mother will bomb a hospital) is actually pretty good." The plot then shifts to bets on the gender of the child of Trump and Satan.
Meanwhile, Kyle continues to investigate the bet on his mother. He confronts another child who put money on the app, and scolds the students that "Israel and Gaza are a very serious matter... Do you even know what Gaza is? There has been a conflict in Israel for thousands of years. Jews and Palestinians are not football teams that you bet on." From there, Kyle goes to confront the "strategic advisor" behind the app, urging him to cancel the bet. The advisor refers Kyle to a government official who oversees gambling, and the boy complains – to the same advisor, who is now answering from a different office – about "a bet that harms Jews."
This time, Kyle is referred to the US Federal Communications Commission, headed by Brendan Carr. Carr is alarmed by Kyle's complaint and goes to talk to Trump but falls into a trap the president set for Satan. Cartman, in the meantime, tries to stir things up and improve his odds of winning the bet, which suddenly seems worthwhile. "I don't get what Kyle's mom has against Palestine... I don't know what to tell you guys, but I'd hate to be a Palestinian hospital right now," Cartman says to the other students.
At the same time, Sheila Broflovski, Kyle's mother, dines with friends at an elegant brasserie and is asked her opinion on the situation in Gaza. "I think it's terrible, a lot of people are dying," she replies after a brief pause. "And... do you feel you should do something about it?", her friends press. "What can I do about it?!", the mother wonders. It soon becomes clear that the friends are also considering whether to bet on Mrs. Broflovski bombing a Palestinian hospital.
"Are you implying that Jews in the US have a duty to do something about this? You want to slander my faith, don't you? It's not the Jews against Palestine; it's Israel against Palestine! And maybe if you read books instead of listening to what Hollywood actors say, you'll see the difference." The friends decide to bet that the furious Sheila will take action.
At the Broflovski family home during dinner, Sheila wonders why everyone thinks American Jews are connected to what is happening in Israel. She declares she has had enough and that she will indeed take action, even as Ike, Kyle's baby brother, is using the gambling app. Kyle begs his mother to calm down, but Sheila refuses and... flies to Israel. Cartman bets $1,400 ("all my mom's money") that Sheila will not bomb the hospital because everyone else believes she will, and he is sure he will win big.
From there, the episode cuts to Israel. A special broadcast by Al-Jazeera reports that Sheila Broflovski ("Umm Kyle" which means mother of Kyle in Arabic) has arrived in the Holy Land. Cartman demands that Kyle calm his mother down "so the kids here aren't even more antisemitic," but Sheila has no cell service in Israel. The bet is ultimately removed from the app, and the money is returned to the users, but not before the final shot of the episode shifts to the office of the Prime Minister of Israel in Jerusalem. Benjamin Netanyahu is in a discussion with his cabinet members, with an angry Sheila heard in the background demanding to speak with the prime minister. She bursts into the office and yells: "There you are, Mr. N-E-T-A-N-Y-A-H-U. Who do you think you are? Killing thousands and flattening neighborhoods, and then wrapping yourself in Judaism as if it protects you from criticism.
"You're making life for Jews miserable and life for American Jews impossible,... Don't roll your eyes at me, mister. You know what you're doing, and you're doing it on purpose. Now you can just sit in that chair because I'm not going anywhere. Buster, I've been to every PTA meeting, every school board meeting, I can go on and on." The episode ends with Hassidic music playing in the background.
