The Fortress: Discrimination and Racism Against Mizrahim
An article in 'Zman Yisrael' documents a series of ethnic remarks against Mizrahim by figures linked to Netanyahu, including Yinon Magal calling Eisenkot a 'monkey', the resignation of Ziv Agmon, a recording of Nathan Eshel, and the 'Mizrahi gene' remark. The article also covers the rejection of a request to investigate discrimination in Haredi seminaries.
This article documents a series of incidents in which ethnic remarks were made against Mizrahim by political and media figures linked to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his circle. The incidents include a statement by Yinon Magal from Channel 14 in October 2026, who called Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot a 'monkey'; the resignation of Ziv Agmon, deputy chief of staff to Netanyahu, in March 2026 after being quoted saying 'baboon' and 'retarded Moroccan'; a recording of Nathan Eshel, a Netanyahu confidant, from 2019 describing the 'non-Ashkenazi' as 'hating everything'; and Netanyahu's 2017 remark 'the Mizrahi gene jumped out'. The article also details the rejection of a request for a State Comptroller investigation into ethnic discrimination in Haredi seminaries in January 2025, citing data on the percentage of Sephardic women in these institutions. The article presents various responses to these remarks, including condemnations and apologies.