Israeli Officials and Media Figures Accused of Mizrahi Discrimination
Translated & summarized from Zman Yisrael by baba
A collection of documented statements and events from 2012 to October 2026 highlights alleged discrimination and racist remarks against Israelis of Mizrahi descent. Incidents involve Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his staff, and media figures like Yinon Magal, who made controversial comments about Gadi Eisenkot. The article also details claims of ethnic discrimination in ultra-Orthodox seminaries and the underrepresentation of Mizrahim in government. While some figures apologized, others defended the remarks, and coalition members blocked an investigation into seminary admissions.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Israeli officials and media figures have been accused of making discriminatory and racist remarks against Mizrahi Israelis.
- Incidents span from 2012 to October 2026, involving politicians, staff, and media personalities.
- Allegations include remarks by Prime Minister Netanyahu's staff and presenter Yinon Magal about Gadi Eisenkot.
- Ethnic discrimination is also alleged in ultra-Orthodox seminary admissions, with a blocked Knesset investigation.
- Some figures apologized for their statements, while others defended them or denied wrongdoing.
- The article documents historical underrepresentation of Mizrahim in government and development towns.
A compilation of documented statements and events reveals a pattern of alleged discrimination and racist remarks against Israelis of Mizrahi (Middle Eastern and North African) descent, involving prominent political figures, media personalities, and government officials over several years. The evidence spans from 2012 to October 2026, with references to earlier incidents.
Incidents include remarks attributed to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, such as telling Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon in March 2017, "My Mizrahi gene jumped," for which he later apologized. In 2019, Netanyahu's confidant Natan Eshel was recorded saying, "This non-Ashkenazi public... we managed to inflame this hatred." More recently, in October 2026, Channel 14 presenter Yinon Magal referred to Gadi Eisenkot as a "monkey" controlled by "elitist Ashkenazim." National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir defended Magal, calling the accusations of racism a "complete distortion."
Further allegations involve Ziv Agmon, acting head of the Prime Minister's Staff, who resigned in March 2026 after being quoted calling Likud MKs "baboons" and "retarded Moroccans." Agmon initially denied the remarks but later apologized, citing his Moroccan heritage, before ultimately resigning. Prime Minister Netanyahu accepted his apology, stating he had not witnessed racism from Agmon, but later agreed to his departure.
Allegations also extend to the ultra-Orthodox sector, with a class-action lawsuit filed in January 2025 against the Jerusalem Municipality and "Beit Yaakov" seminary networks. The suit claims that an Excel file categorized students as "Sephardi" (Mizrahi) and "Ashkenazi," with Sephardi students significantly underrepresented in top seminaries. Coalition members in the Knesset's State Audit Committee voted in January 2025 to reject a proposal to ask the State Comptroller to investigate ethnic discrimination in seminary admissions, despite a Likud MK acknowledging the discrimination as "terrible, oppressive."
Other documented instances include claims against Sara Netanyahu, the Prime Minister's wife, in lawsuits alleging she made disparaging remarks about Moroccans. The Prime Minister's office has consistently denied these claims. The article also touches upon the historical marginalization of Mizrahi Jews in development towns and their underrepresentation in government positions, citing reports from the Israel Democracy Institute and the State Comptroller.
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