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Olympic Judoka Peter Paltchik Slams Minister Chikli Over Mocking Accent
Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli is facing public backlash after mocking the Russian accent of Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman during an interview on Radio Tzafon. The imitation drew sharp criticism from Olympic judo medalist Peter Paltchik and Lieberman himself.
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What happened
- 01Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli mocked the Russian accent of opposition leader Avigdor Lieberman during a Radio Tzafon interview.
- 02Olympic judo medalist Peter Paltchik, who immigrated from Ukraine as a child, strongly condemned Chikli's imitation as shameful and hurtful.
- 03Paltchik demanded a public apology from Chikli, stating the accent represents his home and the Soviet immigrant community.
- 04Avigdor Lieberman accused Chikli of racism and criticized the political establishment and media for their silence on the matter.
- 05Journalist Gilad Shalomor and television personality Zvika Hadar publicly supported Paltchik's criticism of the minister.
- 06Minister Chikli refused to apologize for his remarks and instead launched a counter-attack against Lieberman.
Paltchik, who immigrated to Israel from Ukraine as a child, posted a video on social media demanding a public apology from Chikli. He stated that the accent Chikli mimicked to demean a political rival belongs to Soviet Union immigrants who have contributed significantly to Israel, and that making it a subject of ridicule is personally hurtful. Paltchik urged the minister to debate Lieberman's political positions rather than resorting to ethnic attacks.
Lieberman accused Chikli of racism and questioned the lack of condemnation from the political establishment and the media. While journalist Gilad Shalomor and television personality Zvika Hadar supported Paltchik's criticism, Chikli refused to apologize and instead launched a counter-attack against Lieberman.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
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