A screen grab of a video in which Egyptian interviewees turn violent when hearing they were pranked on Israeli TV. Photo: YouTube.

Three Egyptian actors, who initially thought they were appearing on a German TV program, were furious when they were pranked into believing they were on Israeli TV. The two male actors ended up assaulting staff and damaging equipment.

The program which resembles shows such as “Candid Camera” and “Punk’d”, was broadcast on Egypt’s Al-Nahar channel, and was recorded and translated by the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI).

Egyptian actor Ayman Kandeel, assaulted a man pretending to be the show’s Israeli producer as well as the female host, Iman Mubarak, who fell to the ground. During his violent rampage, he damaged studio equipment and called the staff “sons of b**ches.” He was only calmed down after being shown Mubarak’s ID.

In a separate interview, Egyptian actress Mayar Al-Beblawi launched into an anti-Semitic tirade.

“In that country [Israel], they are all liars. You wouldn’t believe it. They are real liars. They keep whining all the time about the Holocaust, or whatever it’s called. With all the Palestinians that you have killed, you are still whining about the Holocaust and its lousy figures?! These people sawed off [the head] of John the Baptist. They are the slayers of the prophets, what else can we say about them?… Allah did not curse the worm and the moth as much as he cursed the Jews,” she said.

The actress was visibly shocked and refused to continue with the interview after being told “This is Channel 2 from Israel”.

The third actor, Mahmoud Abd Al-Ghaffar, assaulted the man pretending to be the show’s Israeli producer, just like his colleague. He then calmed down after the staff revealed that they were Egyptians. Abd Al-Ghaffar responded by saying “… I hate the Jews to death.”

Although Egypt has a peace treaty with Israel, anti-Semitism is widespread in the Egyptian media and Egyptian artists observe an unofficial boycott of Israel.