In a significant political development, Ziv Agmon, the spokesperson and acting Chief of Staff for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced his resignation on Wednesday following the emergence of leaked audio recordings that feature him making derogatory comments about Moroccan and other Mizrahi Jews. According to reports from The Times of Israel, Agmon's remarks included offensive terms such as 'baboons' and 'retarded,' directed not only at the Moroccan Jewish community but also at fellow Likud party members. In one instance, he referred to MP Nissim Vaturi as a 'baboon' and labeled Eliyahu Revivo a 'retarded Moroccan,' while also dismissing Mizrahi lawmaker Eli Dallal as 'a nobody.'
In his defense, Agmon confirmed the authenticity of the comments but argued they had been taken out of context. He asserted that these allegations of racism are unfounded, citing his own family background, which includes Moroccan ancestry. Agmon attributed the leak to a former friend, suggesting that the intent behind the release was malicious, aimed at tarnishing his reputation and impacting the Prime Minister's image negatively.
Agmon's resignation follows a series of inflammatory comments he made concerning Netanyahu, describing the Prime Minister as 'old' and 'finished' in the wake of the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack, questioning the future of the Israeli state under his leadership. He also expressed skepticism about the Likud party's viability, indicating that it was 'finished,' and provocatively urged Egypt to disclose a recording of a previous conversation with Netanyahu.
The fallout from Agmon's remarks has reignited longstanding ethnic tensions in Israel, particularly concerning the Mizrahi community, who have historically experienced discrimination from the Ashkenazi-dominated political establishment. The backlash was swift, with several members of the Likud party, including MP Revivo, openly criticizing Agmon's comments and stating that individuals who hold such views are unfit for public service.
As reported by barlamantoday.com.
