Netanyahu Intervenes in Scandal Over Host's Insult to Former IDF Chief

A controversy erupted in Israel after Channel 14 host Inon Magal repeatedly referred to Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar Party and former IDF Chief of Staff, as a "monkey." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned Magal's remarks and personally asked him to apologize to Eisenkot, but the host refused. The incident occurred during the program "Patriots," where Magal claimed Eisenkot is not an independent political player but acts under the influence of the Ashkenazi elite. Magal also characterized Eisenkot as a "Moroccan prime minister" put in place by other politicians. These statements drew accusations of racism, with critics arguing they targeted not only Eisenkot but also Mizrahi Jews, those from Middle Eastern and North African countries like Morocco. Magal denied a racial interpretation, explaining "monkey" was criminal slang for a figurehead. The situation escalated when Yotam Zimri, another Channel 14 participant, jokingly repeated the insult on air the following day. Eisenkot responded, suggesting the problem lay not with Magal but with "the person standing behind him," interpreted as a reference to Netanyahu. On October 18, Netanyahu addressed the scandal in a radio interview, calling Magal's comments "absolutely inappropriate." He also pointed out that supporters of the right-wing Likud party are also subjected to demeaning comparisons, such as being called baboons and chimpanzees, which he deemed unacceptable. Magal later stated that Netanyahu had called him directly to request an apology for Eisenkot but that he had declined, believing the Prime Minister erred by yielding to critics. The controversy has broadened into a wider public and political discussion about attitudes toward Moroccan-origin Jews and societal reactions to insults across different political camps.