Jonny Gould’s Jewish State

37: Netflix Fauda: Itzik Cohen and Lior Raz, Israeli drama popular in surprising places

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Episode notes

Israel is fast emerging as a hub for international TV drama.

Netflix is syndicating a host of Israeli hit shows across 192 countries. It was unthinkable even five years ago that the Startup Nation would add cultural ‘soft power’ to its already established high-tech rollcall of global successes. Fauda was thought just to be of interest to an Israeli audience.

Originally only in Hebrew and Arabic, it's the story of the IDF's special units who go deep behind enemy lines to combat terror and rescue hostages.

Among the mainstays of all three series is co-creator and lead, Lior Raz who plays Doron Kabbilio (and other undercover aliases) and his Shin Bet commander, Itzik Cohen, the long suffering Captain Gabi Ayub.

I caught up with Itzik, locked down in Tel Aviv, who explained with great passion the role of the actor in such a realistic show. Lior Raz comes courtesy of Roger Bennett of Men In Blazers. Thanks and Courage, Roger.

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