Netanyahu Condemns 'Monkey' Remark by Magal About Eisenkot

By דביר ג'ברה, איתי גל-און, דביר ג'ברה, איתי גל-און

Translated & summarized from Mako by baba

CenterCharged tone

Hebrew · 9 newsrooms covering

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned remarks by Yinon Magal, a Channel 14 personality, who called Gadi Eisenkot, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, a "monkey." Netanyahu called the statement "inappropriate" and urged Eisenkot to condemn similar remarks against Likud supporters. Magal's comments included ethnic slurs, to which Eisenkot responded by calling Magal "despicable" and accusing Netanyahu of hiding Mizrahi individuals in his party. Other Yisrael Beiteinu members and opposition figures also criticized Magal and Netanyahu.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Prime Minister Netanyahu condemned Yinon Magal's "monkey" remark about Gadi Eisenkot as "inappropriate."
Yinon Magal called Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey" and suggested he was controlled by "elitist Ashkenazim."
Gadi Eisenkot called Magal "despicable" and accused Netanyahu of hiding Mizrahi individuals in his party.
Yisrael Beiteinu members condemned Magal's remarks, with one calling him a "racist."
Avigdor Lieberman linked Magal's language to that of a former Netanyahu spokesperson, citing racism.
Netanyahu stated he hears similar condescending remarks against Likud voters daily.

Netanyahu Condemns 'Monkey' Remark by Magal About Eisenkot — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned remarks made by Channel 14 personality Yinon Magal, who referred to Gadi Eisenkot, the leader of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, as a "monkey." Netanyahu stated, "This is a very inappropriate statement, yes, I condemn it." He added that he would be pleased if Eisenkot also condemned statements made by Galia Albin and others who allegedly called Likud supporters "chimpanzees" and "baboons." Netanyahu asserted that while Magal's comment was inappropriate, he hears similar condescending and contemptuous remarks directed at Likud voters almost daily.

Magal, in his remarks, called Eisenkot a "monkey" and suggested he was being controlled by "elitist Ashkenazim," adding, "His name is Mizrahi Moroccan, let a Moroccan prime minister be your name. It's like we don't see reality."

Eisenkot responded at a conference, calling Magal a "despicable person" and his statement "delusional." He accused Netanyahu of hiding Mizrahi (Middle Eastern heritage) individuals within his party, stating, "The voice is Yinon's voice, but the hands are Netanyahu's hands." Eisenkot emphasized that such rhetoric has no place in Israeli discourse.

Members of the Yisrael Beiteinu party also denounced Magal's comments. Yoram Cohen, former head of the Shin Bet and number two on the party's list, declared, "I am proud to be a Jew, Mizrahi, Israeli, and not a racist." Party candidate Inbar Harush Giti stated, "If Gadi Eisenkot is a monkey to you, then so are all Mizrahim in Israel. Shame on you."

Knesset Member Avigdor Lieberman, leader of Yisrael Beiteinu, commented that Magal, described as Netanyahu's "main mouthpiece," used racist language, drawing parallels to past remarks by Ziv Agmon, a former Netanyahu spokesperson, who allegedly made racist comments about Mizrahim. Lieberman suggested that such language reflects the sentiment within the Prime Minister's office.