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- October 19, 202616°
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Remarks targeting Eisenkot put Netanyahu and Israel’s opposition at odds
Comments by Channel 14 presenter Yanon Magal describing opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot as a “monkey” because of his Moroccan heritage have sparked a debate over racism and political discourse between Netanyahu and the opposition in Israel. Eisenkot and opposition leaders condemned the remarks, while Netanyahu also denounced them.
Statements by Yanon Magal, a presenter on Israel’s Channel 14, about Yash Party leader Gadi Eisenkot brought the political dispute between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the opposition into the realm of allegations of racism.
On the program he presented on Saturday evening, Magal said of Eisenkot, who is of Moroccan heritage: "Eisenkot is a monkey. Behind him are the Ashkenazi elites directing him. He is a monkey, named Moroccan Mizrahi."
Eisenkot criticizes Netanyahu
Eisenkot, who served as chief of staff from 2015 to 2019 and was born into a Jewish family of Moroccan origin, described Magal’s remarks as "absurd" at a news conference on Sunday.
Eisenkot responded to Prime Minister Netanyahu by saying, "The voice is Yanon’s, the hands are Netanyahu’s." He argued that Netanyahu was sidelining Mizrahim within the Likud Party, referring to Jews of Middle Eastern origin.
The Yash Party, led by Eisenkot, said that describing its leader, who served in the army for 45 years, as a "monkey" because of his Moroccan heritage reflected a racist view directed at a broad segment of Israeli society.
The party also argued that fear of losing the elections revealed how some circles viewed a large segment of the electorate and announced that it sought political change.
Opposition reacts to Magal
Opposition leader Yair Lapid described Magal as one of Netanyahu’s most prominent spokespeople and a figure close to the prime minister. Lapid criticized Netanyahu and Likud lawmakers for failing to condemn the remarks.
Expressing support for Eisenkot and his family, Lapid said that in the general election to be held in 10 days, they would remove Netanyahu and his circle from power and establish a "good and honest" government.
Democrats Party leader Yair Golan described Magal as a "slave to the poison machine" and a "backward racist." Golan said that everyone of Moroccan, Ashkenazi or other origins was Israeli and stated that political discourse should not deteriorate to the level of racism and violence.
Avigdor Lieberman, leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu Party, said Magal had described Eisenkot as a "Moroccan monkey." Lieberman recalled that Ziv Agamon, identified as Netanyahu’s spokesman, used an expression comparing Moroccans to baboons in March.
Lieberman argued that the use of racist language by Netanyahu’s official spokesman and a media figure described as close to the prime minister demonstrated the prevailing outlook in the Prime Minister’s Office.
Netanyahu condemns the remarks
In comments made approximately 15 hours after Magal’s remarks, Netanyahu said he considered them "extremely inappropriate" and condemned them.
At the same time, Netanyahu said it would have been better for Eisenkot to also condemn the remarks by businesswoman Galia Albin and others who described Likud voters as chimpanzees and baboons. Netanyahu said Magal had used words he should not have used and argued that disparaging and arrogant remarks about Likud voters were made every day.
Public opinion polls released ahead of the general election planned for October 27 in Israel showed that neither Netanyahu’s bloc nor any of the Jewish opposition blocs had secured enough seats to form a government. Some polls indicated that Eisenkot was ahead of Netanyahu.
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