Minister Chikli Defends Russian Accent Impersonation of Lieberman

Minister Amichai Chikli of the Likud party stated he has no intention of apologizing for impersonating Yisrael Beiteinu chairman Avigdor Lieberman with a Russian accent during a radio interview. Chikli, responding to criticism, said, "A little humor is allowed from time to time, a bit of humor. I am not sorry at all, I think it was very nice." The controversy began after Chikli's interview on Radio Tzafon (104.5FM), where he harshly attacked Lieberman, calling him names and mocking his Russian accent while referencing past statements attributed to him. "Lieberman is a blabbermouth and a charlatan who doesn't know his right from his left, unworthy, unprincipled, immoral," Chikli said during the interview. He recalled two of Lieberman's alleged statements, mimicking his accent: "I remember him saying 'I will eliminate Haniyeh within 48 hours... I will take all the Haredim to the dump.'" Chikli continued his personal attack, saying, "Do me a favor, come on, blabbermouth, charlatan, really, I don't understand who are the people willing to vote for this clown?" He added, "Clown is an understatement. There is also a medical clown which is a good thing... we heard about Lieberman." Chikli's remarks drew criticism, particularly for the use of a Russian accent during the attack on Lieberman, and for the perceived offense to former Soviet Union immigrants.