Zohan (Adam Sandler) is an Israeli military agent that feels he has missed his calling in life to be a hairdresser. While out on a mission to imprison a Palestinian terrorist called the Phantom (John Turturro), Zohan stages his disappearance and sneaks off to New York City in pursuit of his passion; he then goes by the pseudonym of "Scrappy Cocoa". After facing one rejection after another from hair salons, Zohan is finally given a job at a Palestinian owned salon as a floor sweeper. In time, Zohan is able to prove that he is a talented hairstylist and that he is able to work peacefully with a Palestinian. Yet, one day a Palestinian taxi driver (Rob Schneider) recognizes Zohan for who he really is and informs the Phantom of Zohans whereabouts. Through a turn of events, Zohan and Phantom meet to duel in a challenge but the "fight" is disrupted by the unexpected news of a violent attack by white racists on Zohan and Phantom's people and homeland. Now Zohan and Phantom must work together to protect their people and territories.