Israeli Minister Defends Mocking Immigrant Accent as 'Cute Joke'
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli refused to apologize for mocking immigrants' accents during a radio interview, calling it a "cute joke." The remarks, aimed at opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman, were condemned as racist and xenophobic. Chikli defended his actions as acceptable humor and claimed criticism against him is exaggerated. Critics, including Lieberman and MK Oded Forer, denounced the behavior, highlighting the contributions of Russian-speaking Israelis and alleged systemic discrimination.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Minister Amichai Chikli refused to apologize for mocking immigrants' accents, calling it a "cute joke."
- Chikli's remarks were made during a radio interview while criticizing opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman.
- Lieberman condemned Chikli's actions as "open racism" on social media.
- MK Oded Forer criticized Chikli, linking his behavior to coalition panic and immigrant discrimination.
- Chikli claimed the criticism was an artificial inflation of a "light humor" incident.
- The incident has caused significant public backlash and condemnation.
Minister for Diaspora Affairs Amichai Chikli has refused to apologize for publicly mocking the accent of immigrants, calling his remarks a "cute joke." The incident, which has sparked public outrage, occurred during a recent interview on Radio North, where Chikli, a member of the ruling Likud party, attempted to criticize opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman. Chikli resorted to an exaggerated, crude accent to mock Lieberman, which he apparently found amusing.
His actions have been widely condemned as xenophobic and racist, particularly given his ministerial role in combating antisemitism and strengthening ties with the diaspora. Lieberman himself responded on social media, labeling Chikli's behavior as "open racism."
Oded Forer, head of the Yisrael Beiteinu faction, linked Chikli's stance to panic within the ruling coalition. Forer highlighted that over a million Russian-speaking citizens live in Israel, with tens of thousands currently serving in the military. He also pointed to systemic discrimination against immigrants, including issues with obtaining passports, and accused Chikli of being out of touch with the public.
Chikli, speaking on 103FM radio, dismissed the criticism, stating that light humor is acceptable and that a storm is being artificially inflated around his words. He also claimed that media criticism is consistently directed at him and his allies. Previously, an Olympic medalist had also criticized Chikli over the incident.
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