In a surprising turn of events, Ziv Agmon, spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, announced his resignation in a statement published on Wednesday evening. This decision comes after Israeli journalist Amit Segal exposed a series of racist remarks made by Agmon in the past, specifically targeting individuals of Moroccan descent.
Segal revealed that Agmon had made derogatory comments about Moroccans, stating, "It's not good that they opened Morocco to Israeli tourism; now we know where our Moroccans came from. From Africa. A baboon is a monkey." Furthermore, Agmon referred to multiple members of the Knesset (MKs) in disparaging terms, labeling MK Nissim Vaturi as a "baboon" and MK Eliyahu Revivo with a pejorative term, expressing disbelief at their election to the Knesset. He also mocked MK Eli Dellal, calling him a "clown," and referred to the Shas party, which is predominantly composed of Jews from Middle Eastern and North African backgrounds, as a group that "only know how to take money." These comments have sparked outrage and raised serious concerns about the values upheld by the Likud party, to which all the mentioned MKs belong.
In response to the controversy, Agmon expressed his outrage at the leak of his private conversations, claiming that the majority occurred before he assumed his role in the Prime Minister's Office. He characterized the release of these quotes as an attempt to assassinate his character and to undermine the Prime Minister he serves. Agmon emphasized that the allegations of racism against the Moroccan community were absurd, stating that his own family has Moroccan roots, and he condemned the selective sharing of his private dialogues as a misrepresentation of his views. Despite his regret over the comments attributed to him, he asserted that he felt compelled to resign due to the divisive narrative that had emerged around him.
A source close to Netanyahu revealed that while Agmon has not served as the PMO spokesperson for some time, he was being considered for a chief of staff role. The source expressed surprise at Agmon's announcement, noting that there were no prior indications of his impending departure, and stated that the situation may not be finalized yet.
Justice Minister Yariv Levin responded to the controversy by condemning Agmon's statements, asserting that there is no place for racism within Israel or the Likud movement. Levin emphasized that the party's foundation is rooted in unity and inclusivity, highlighting the need to eradicate racism from both the legal system and within the party itself. He reaffirmed that the Likud movement intends to remain a welcoming home for all citizens of Israel.
As reported by jpost.com.
