Radio Host Calls Book Critical of Netanyahu 'Despicable'

Radio host Yinon Magal sparked controversy on his 103FM radio program Tuesday by harshly criticizing the book "Mr. Abandonment: The Legacy of the Hostage Abandoner," calling its contributors, including families of hostages and former captives, "despicable and vile people." Magal further stated that these individuals "fabricated a blood libel" against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, accusing him of being "Mr. Abandonment." He added on his "The Patriots" program that "these people should be remembered for eternal shame."

The book, published in 2024, features essays, illustrations, and literary texts that criticize Prime Minister Netanyahu's handling of the hostages abducted during the October 7th Hamas attack. Contributors include families of hostages and prominent Israeli public figures, academics, and cultural figures, such as Nobel laureate Aharon Chechanover, former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo, former Shin Bet chief Yuval Diskin, and former IDF Chiefs of Staff Moshe Ya'alon and Dani Halutz.

"Mr. Abandonment" was funded by a crowdfunding campaign on the "Giveback" platform, initiated by the "Forum for Life - Forum of Families to Save the Hostages." The campaign raised approximately 2 million shekels from tens of thousands of donors and funded printing at Kibbutz Be'eri's "Dfus Be'eri" printing house. The book was also strategically distributed in the United States, notably during Netanyahu's July 2024 address to the US Congress, aiming to raise awareness among American leadership about the hostage situation and the deep internal divisions in Israel.

Contributors express deep personal anguish. Einav Tsengauker, mother of abducted hostage Matan, wrote that the Prime Minister's actions "pierced my heart as a mother... and clarified the ongoing policy of abandonment." Adina Moshe, who was held captive for 49 days, recounted that fellow hostage Haim Peri, who was later killed, told her, "Bibi won't hurry to release us, we are leftists," and spoke of "betrayal by my Prime Minister." Moshe Ya'alon wrote that the abandonment of hostages would be Netanyahu's legacy for eternal shame.

Magal's claim that the book constitutes a "blood libel" and a false accusation against Netanyahu is countered by his reliance on statements from Brett McGurk, a senior US diplomat involved in hostage negotiations. McGurk has stated that Hamas imposed impossible demands and used delaying tactics, asserting that "without military pressure, Sinwar would never have released anyone," and that "military pressure is what brought about all the deals." Magal's controversial remarks came in the context of McGurk's testimony, which sheds light on the negotiations and identifies perceived obstacles.