Channel 14 Panelist Repeats 'Monkey' Insult Against Opposition Leader

A controversy over a derogatory nickname for Gadi Eisenkot, chairman of the Yisrael Beiteinu party, continues after a Channel 14 panelist repeated the insult. The previous day, Yinon Magal, a host on the channel, sparked outrage by calling Eisenkot a "monkey" and claiming he was manipulated by "elitist Ashkenazim." On Sunday night, during the program "HaPatriotim" on Channel 14, panelist Yotam Zimri echoed the insult.

During the discussion, which focused on U.S. President Donald Trump's support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, panelist Avishai Ben-Chaim stated that Trump's message was "Trump needs a strong Bibi." Zimri then sarcastically responded in English, "Choose Bibi, not the monkey," drawing laughter from other panelists, including Magal.

The remarks came hours after Prime Minister Netanyahu had publicly condemned Magal's initial statement, calling it "very inappropriate" in an interview with Radio Tzafon. Netanyahu also urged Eisenkot to condemn remarks made against Likud voters. However, Magal revealed on air that Netanyahu had spoken to him and requested an apology, which Magal refused, stating he would not say he used the wrong words because "it's all fake."

Magal criticized Netanyahu's decision to condemn his words, believing the Prime Minister made a mistake by giving his remarks undue attention, which he felt fueled a political campaign against him. Magal maintained his words were taken out of context and that he intended to describe a situation where someone is put forward while being manipulated behind the scenes. He stated he has no intention of apologizing.

Meanwhile, outside the Channel 14 studios, a protest message from the Yisrael Beiteinu party was displayed, featuring a picture of Eisenkot with the caption, "Yinon Magal, who did you call a monkey?" Eisenkot himself commented on the latest incident, describing it as another evening of a "pathetic racism show on Channel 14."