3 hrs ago
Fauda Tops Pakistan Charts Without Changing Views of Israel
Fauda is a television show about Israeli soldiers operating in Palestinian territories.
It became very popular on Netflix in Pakistan.
This is surprising because Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.
Some people may watch it because they are curious about the conflict.
Others may watch it because it is exciting and well made, or even because they disagree with it.
Film critic Kamran Jawaid says watching a show does not mean agreeing with its politics.
Pakistanis have often watched Indian movies and shows even when the two countries have political tensions.
He believes Fauda’s popularity does not mean that Pakistani views of Israel have changed.
The Israeli series Fauda reached number one on Netflix in Pakistan, despite the country having no diplomatic relations with Israel.
Analysts suggest viewers may be curious, “hate-watching,” or attracted by the show’s thriller format and production quality.
Pakistani critic Kamran Jawaid says watching foreign productions does not necessarily change political beliefs or national loyalties.
The show’s popularity may reflect streaming algorithms and Pakistanis’ longstanding consumption of Indian and other foreign entertainment.
Jawaid argues that Fauda’s success should not be interpreted as evidence of a broad shift in Pakistani public opinion toward Israel.
- Who
- Pakistani Netflix viewers, journalist Kunwar Khuldune Shahid, and film critic Kamran Jawaid.
- What
- Fauda became a top-trending Netflix series in Pakistan, prompting debate over whether its popularity has political meaning.
- Where
- Pakistan, with comparisons to audiences in India, Lebanon, and other Arabic-speaking countries.
- When
- The series was trending at number one when the article was published; the article also cites Jawaid’s 1997 experience watching the Indian film Border.
- Why
- Viewers may be drawn by curiosity, the familiar conflict setting, the show’s entertainment value, or streaming-platform recommendations rather than support for Israel.
Political Signal
Entertainment Choice
Meaning of Fauda’s popularity
Political Signal
Kunwar Khuldune Shahid argues that the show may indicate a widening gap between official narratives and how younger Pakistanis consume culture and information.
Entertainment Choice
Kamran Jawaid says the ranking alone cannot demonstrate a broad change in Pakistani views of Israel; people may simply be watching a television show.
Why viewers watch
Political Signal
Some viewers may be curious about a familiar conflict, engage in “hate-watching,” or use the show to encounter perspectives that differ from official narratives.
Entertainment Choice
Viewers may primarily be responding to the series’ entertainment value, production quality, global popularity, and Netflix’s recommendation algorithms.
Effect on political beliefs
Political Signal
The show’s success could be read as evidence that cultural consumption is becoming less constrained by official political positions.
Entertainment Choice
Jawaid argues that watching foreign entertainment does not automatically make viewers less nationalistic or more sympathetic to the country portrayed.
Key facts
- Series
- Fauda, an Israeli action-thriller about the Israel Defense Forces operating mostly in Palestinian territories.
- Platform
- Netflix
- Ranking
- Fauda was reported as trending at number one in Pakistan.
- Political context
- Pakistan does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, and public discourse has generally been hostile toward the Jewish state.
- Language
- The series is broadcast in Hebrew and Arabic; Hebrew is not spoken in Pakistan, while Arabic is understood by only a small segment of the population.
- Main disagreement
- Kunwar Khuldune Shahid sees the trend as potentially reflecting changing media habits, while Kamran Jawaid says it does not show changing views of Israel.
- Comparable example
- Jawaid cited the continuing popularity of Indian films and television in Pakistan despite political tensions between India and Pakistan.
Quotes
Kamran Jawaid
Senior Pakistani film critic at Dawn.
“I’d wager that most viewers never saw the series from a pro-Israel perspective, or purposely hate-watched it — it is we critics who label stuff as such; people see shows and movies with less ominous motives.”
theprint.in
“Yet watching an Indian war film did not necessarily turn Pakistanis against their own country.”
theprint.in
A Reddit user
Participant in an online discussion about Fauda’s appeal.
“You can be entertained by a show without agreeing with the politics of it.”
theprint.in
Sources
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