Channel 14 Host Calls Political Rival a 'Monkey'
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal called Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party, a "monkey" during a political discussion, alleging he is controlled by "elitist Ashkenazi" figures. Eisenkot responded that the issue is with those behind Magal, not Magal himself. The Yashar! party condemned the remarks as racist and fear-driven, predicting Eisenkot's election as prime minister. Magal later explained his term was a slang expression for a scapegoat.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal called political rival Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey" during a televised debate.
- Magal accused Eisenkot of being manipulated by "elitist Ashkenazi" individuals.
- Eisenkot responded that the real issue is with those behind Magal, not Magal himself.
- The Yashar! party condemned Magal's remarks as racist and fear-driven.
- Magal later clarified his statement was a slang term for a scapegoat.
- This is not Magal's first controversial statement in the current election campaign.
Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal referred to Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yashar! party, as a "monkey" during a discussion on the "Patriots" program on Saturday. Magal suggested that Eisenkot, who is Mizrahi, is being manipulated by "elitist Ashkenazi" individuals, specifically naming Ronen Manelis as controlling him. Magal also addressed Amihai Attali, implying that presenting Eisenkot as a Mizrahi candidate is a superficial tactic, comparing it to "the emperor's new clothes."
Eisenkot responded by stating he had no reply to such a low level of discourse, attributing the problem not to Magal but to "the person standing behind Yinon Magal." He vowed to bring change to the country and eliminate "Magalism and Bardugism." The Yashar! party issued a statement, comparing Magal's remarks to Dudu Topaz's past insults against Mizrahim, calling Eisenkot a "monkey" because he is Mizrahi. The party accused Magal of spreading lies and venom out of fear of losing the upcoming election, asserting that Israelis will elect a "son of immigrants from Morocco" as prime minister to rectify the damage caused by the Netanyahu government.
Magal later clarified that his use of the term "monkey" was not literal but an underworld expression for someone used as a front to take the blame. This is not Magal's first controversial statement during the current election campaign; he recently called bereaved families and families of hostages "the most despicable people in the country" and demanded they apologize to Netanyahu for participating in a book titled "Mr. Abandonment."
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