A major political controversy has erupted in Israel following the disclosure of deeply offensive recordings featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s close aide making racist comments about Mizrahi Jews. Israeli Channel 12 News revealed Tuesday that Ziv Agmon, serving as Netanyahu’s personal spokesperson and interim chief of staff, made disparaging remarks about several members of the ruling Likud party who are of Mizrahi descent.
In the leaked audio, Agmon referred to Likud parliament members using dehumanizing language, calling Nissim Vaturi a ‘baboon’ and describing Eliyahu Revivo as a ‘retarded Moroccan.’ He additionally questioned how such figures were elected to parliament, suggesting party primaries should be replaced with hand-picked candidates. ‘Who would even know these people? What a bunch of baboons,’ Agmon stated, while dismissing Likud lawmaker Eli Dallal as ‘a nobody.’
The scandal has reignited longstanding tensions regarding ethnic divisions within Israeli society. Mizrahim—Jews with ancestral origins in Muslim-majority countries across North Africa and the Middle East—have historically faced discrimination from Israel’s predominantly Ashkenazi leadership of European descent. Recent studies continue to show significant socioeconomic gaps between these communities.
Agmon’s remarks extended beyond ethnic insults to include criticism of Netanyahu’s leadership. In comments made after the October 2023 Hamas attack, Agmon stated that Netanyahu ‘is finished’ and ‘needs to step down.’ He also made disparaging comments about Sara Netanyahu, the prime minister’s wife, and suggested Egypt should release recordings of conversations with Netanyahu that might imply prior warnings about the attack.
Despite Agmon denying holding racist views and claiming he has been ‘seriously wronged,’ multiple Likud figures have demanded his immediate dismissal. Energy Minister Eli Cohen stated that Agmon’s remarks ‘deserve unequivocal condemnation,’ while Aryeh Deri, leader of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, criticized Netanyahu’s silence on the matter. Israeli media reported Wednesday that Netanyahu is seeking a replacement for Agmon, who is expected to be removed from his position.