Pickle King Faces Backlash After Endorsing Israeli Politician

Yehuda Ohayon, widely known as the 'Pickle King' of Jerusalem's Mahane Yehuda market, has ignited a significant controversy after posting a video endorsing MK Gadi Eisenkot. In the video, Ohayon expressed his hope for change in Israel, stating, "I hope for the sake of the people that Gadi will come and make a change, the people need change." He further elaborated on his belief in Eisenkot, urging him to take the mandate and warning that failure to change could lead to a repeat of the October 7th attacks.

Ohayon's public endorsement quickly drew sharp criticism from many social media users who vowed to boycott his business. The backlash escalated when Channel 14 host Yinon Magal joined the fray, sharing screenshots of past news headlines related to Ohayon's legal and financial troubles. Magal sarcastically captioned the posts with the word "straight" and a laughing emoji.

The headlines shared by Magal highlighted several past issues. One detailed an investigation by the Tax Authority into alleged tax evasion totaling 2.4 million shekels between 2016 and 2024, alongside suspicions of smuggling unregulated eggs. Another headline referred to a 2019 indictment where Ohayon and his son were accused of assaulting a warehouse owner to the point of unconsciousness over a dispute involving a few hundred shekels. A 2016 warning from the Chief Rabbinate was also included, cautioning against Ohayon's stall for displaying meat products under a "Yoreh De'ah" kashrut certificate without actual certification.