Israeli Politicians Condemn Host's 'Monkey' Remark About Former IDF Chief
Translated & summarized from Cursorinfo by baba
Channel 14 host Inon Magal referred to Gadi Eisenkot, a former IDF Chief of Staff and current party leader, as a "monkey" during a broadcast, suggesting his background was a cover for Ashkenazi elites. The remark drew strong condemnation from Eisenkot, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman. Netanyahu also called for the opposition to condemn its own supporters' rhetoric, while Magal has previously made controversial statements regarding the families of hostages and fallen soldiers.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Channel 14 host Inon Magal called former IDF Chief Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey" on air.
- Magal suggested Eisenkot's background was a cover for Ashkenazi elites.
- Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the remark "absolutely inappropriate."
- Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman also condemned Magal's statement.
- Eisenkot vowed to cleanse the political field of toxic expressions.
- Magal previously claimed hostage families should apologize to Netanyahu.
Channel 14 host Inon Magal sparked outrage by calling Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party and former IDF Chief of Staff, a "monkey" during a broadcast of the "Patriotim" talk show. Magal suggested that Eisenkot's Oriental background and Moroccan name were being used by Ashkenazi elites as a cover, defining the term "monkey" in criminal slang as a figurehead for real leaders. "He's just a monkey. A monkey. Behind him, the Ashkenazi elites rule him. And he's just a monkey: they say we'll have a Moroccan prime minister because he has a Moroccan name and Oriental origin. As if we don't see how things really are!" Magal stated.
The remark drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum. Eisenkot himself stated he would not stoop to personal insults, with his party drawing a parallel to a 1981 statement by Dudu Topaz against Likud supporters. Eisenkot also placed political responsibility for the host's rhetoric on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vowing to cleanse the political field of toxic expressions.
Opposition leaders Yair Lapid and Avigdor Lieberman also sharply denounced Magal's comments. Prime Minister Netanyahu characterized the host's words as "absolutely inappropriate" and condemned them. However, Netanyahu also called for a symmetrical condemnation from the opposition, accusing its supporters of regularly insulting Likud voters.
This is not the first time Inon Magal has been at the center of controversy for his statements. Previously, the journalist claimed that the families of hostages and those killed on October 7, including relatives of the Bibas family, should publicly apologize to the Prime Minister for criticizing him.
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