Yinon Magal, host of "The Patriots" on Channel 14, called Yashar party chairman and former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey" on Saturday evening, claiming that Ashkenazi Jews were controlling him behind the scenes. The remarks, made during an episode of the political talk show, prompted a sharp response from Eisenkot, who suggested that someone else was behind Magal's comments.
During the discussion, Magal said, "He's a monkey, he's a monkey. Are you impressed by the fact that he's Mizrahi?" He later added, "They put a monkey there, and behind him all the elitist Ashkenazim are running him."
Magal also singled out Eisenkot's campaign manager, Ronen Manelis, claiming that he controlled Eisenkot and told him what to say. Addressing another panelist, Magal added, "They gave you a Moroccan prime minister, as if we don't see the reality. It's the emperor's new clothes."
'The problem is not Yinon Magal,' Eisenkot says in response
Eisenkot condemned the remarks, saying, "Yinon Magal said I'm a monkey being controlled by Ashkenazim, so I have nothing to say in response to something this low."
He went on to suggest that Magal was acting on behalf of someone else, though he did not identify the person. "The problem is not Yinon Magal, but the man standing behind Yinon Magal."
Eisenkot also pledged to bring political change, adding, "We will bring change to the country. We will remove the phenomenon of Magal-ism ... from our lives and bring about a better country."