Professor Accuses Former Netanyahu Aides of Betrayal

Professor Moshe Cohen Eliya has criticized former senior aides to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, Avi Gil and Yoav Horowitz, for their recent public statements against the premier. Cohen Eliya suggested that Gil and Horowitz, who were previously close to Netanyahu, are now undergoing a "purification ritual" to gain acceptance in circles that view Netanyahu negatively. He described this shift as a move from a "<bos>" to a "pure" status within a new social order.

Cohen Eliya elaborated on the concept of "taharah" (purification) and "tumah" (impurity) in a sociological context, explaining that individuals perceived as "impure" are those who have transgressed social boundaries or disrupted established orders. He likened this to religious concepts of purity and impurity, where crossing a forbidden line renders one "impure." According to Cohen Eliya, individuals who were once close to Netanyahu and are now critical of him are essentially converting their "capital" from their past proximity and roles into symbolic capital within a new political camp.

He specifically pointed to Yoav Horowitz, who served as Netanyahu's chief of staff and director general of the Prime Minister's Office, as an example of this political transition. Horowitz is now a co-founder of the "Yashar!" party. Avi Gil, who was Netanyahu's military secretary before October 7th, has also publicly criticized the Prime Minister's Office, actions that Cohen Eliya believes are welcomed by the "left-wing media" as a way to obtain "dirt" on Netanyahu.

Cohen Eliya argued that the more closely someone was associated with Netanyahu, the greater the value their criticism holds for the "relationalist camp." This is because their former closeness, initially a source of "impurity," becomes a source of "authority" after they renounce it, signaling to the new camp that "even the man who was inside says what we say." He concluded that these public criticisms serve as a symbolic purification ceremony, proving they have switched sides and are now forgiven for their past "impure" association.