Host Yinon Magal Sparks Outrage by Attacking Families of Oct. 7 Victims
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Israeli radio host Yinon Magal has drawn widespread criticism for calling participants in a book about perceived government failures "abominable people" and suggesting they vote for Prime Minister Netanyahu to atone. Among those named were relatives of fallen soldiers and hostages, including Ofri Bibas Levy, who responded that she would only seek forgiveness from her murdered nephews Ariel and Kfir Bibas. Magal later attempted to clarify his remarks, differentiating between victims' families and others, and suggesting the Bibas family owed Netanyahu an apology if they made false accusations.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Radio host Yinon Magal called participants in a book "abominable people" and suggested voting for Netanyahu as atonement.
- Ofri Bibas Levy, whose nephews Ariel and Kfir were murdered in captivity, stated she would only seek forgiveness from them.
- Magal included relatives of hostages and fallen soldiers, such as Tami Arad and Einav Tsengauker, in his list.
- Magal later claimed he was excluding October 7 victims' families from his criticism.
- Co-host Ben Caspit questioned Magal's remarks about the Bibas family needing to apologize to Netanyahu.
Radio host Yinon Magal has ignited a firestorm with his remarks on 103FM, where he harshly criticized families of fallen soldiers and hostages. Magal read out names of individuals who participated in a book titled 'Mr. Abandonment,' labeling them "abominable people." He suggested that the only way for them to be forgiven is by voting for Prime Minister Netanyahu in the upcoming elections, calling it their "only option to atone for the abomination they committed."
The list of "abominable people" included not only artists and political rivals but also Tami Arad, wife of missing navigator Ron Arad; Einav Tsengauker, mother of hostage survivor Matan Tsengauker; Dr. Maayan Sherman, mother of soldier Ron Sherman who was kidnapped and killed in captivity; and Ofri Bibas Levy, sister of Yarden Bibas and aunt of Ariel and Kfir Bibas, all of whom were murdered in captivity. Other names read included Tamir Pardo, Nimrod Sheffer, Moshe Ya'alon, Nili Margalit, Tzurya Shalov, Orna Banai, Yizhar Cohen, Shira Geffen, and Dan Netanyahu.
Ofri Bibas Levy responded directly to Magal's accusations, stating, "The only ones I will ask for forgiveness from until the day I die are Shiri, Ariel, and Kfir." Magal later attempted to qualify his remarks, stating, "By the way, the Bibas family, Bibi did not abandon their return." When co-host Ben Caspit questioned if the Bibas family should apologize to Netanyahu, Magal retorted, "If she fabricates a false accusation against him, yes."
Magal further differentiated his comments, stating he was excluding families of October 7 victims from his criticism, though he had previously included them. Caspit asked if other bereaved families from October 7 should apologize, to which Magal responded, "For the purpose of the matter, I will exclude the families of those from October 7."
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