Comedian’s Viral Parody of French News Show Tackles Middle East Conflict

At a time when the conflict between Hamas and the Palestinian movement is moving the whole world, a satirical reproduction of "L’heure des pros" on Cnews is making Internet users laugh. In this video of over 16 minutes, comedian Malik Bentalha, who goes by the name "Pascal Traud", imitates Pascal Praud in his parody show "L’heure de trop sur TNews". He invites to the set Larsen Harbouni, the imam of Nancy, who imitates Hassen Chalghoumi, the famous imam of Drancy, author of the book "Les musulmans, stop", known for his controversial positions; a former director of ministerial and dental cabinets, who reminds one of columnist Elisabeth Lévy; a former soldier, founding member of the "Génération Martel" group and a certain AbdelKader Ziani, a Harvard graduate, who reminds one of Karim Zéribi, a man used to giving balanced opinions, defending Muslims every time and denouncing the "double standards" policy of certain media and defenders of the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

On the menu of the show "L’heure de trop sur TNews", debates on sensitive topics such as the abaya, an outfit banned in French schools at the start of the school year in September. "Is the djellaba a religious garment, should it be banned in public space?" launches the host. "The ban on the jellaba once again proves that France does not assume its principle of secularism. [...] The Council of State in its opinion 832-456 dated November 27, 1999 decided that the jellaba was absolutely not a religious garment and that it was compatible with the principle of secularism," argues the Harvard professor. [...] It’s not me who says it, it’s the Council of State." Enough to provoke the annoyance of the other guests on the set. He is subjected to insults.

Published on Thursday, Malik Bentalha’s sketch has accumulated 9.1 million views on X. An impressive success for the 34-year-old comedian, whose mother is of Moroccan origin.