Channel 14 host Yinon Magal calls Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey"; Netanyahu condemns the remark but says Likud voters are insulted every day
Channel 14 host Yinon Magal called Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey" run by Ashkenazi elites. Critics called it racist; Magal says it was underworld slang for a front man. Netanyahu condemned it but said Likud voters are insulted daily.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
Magal hosts "The Patriots" on Channel 14. The Times of Israel describes him as a pro-government commentator and one of the prime minister's most prominent media supporters. The remark came little more than a week before Israel's October 27 election, in which Eisenkot's Yashar party and Netanyahu's Likud were leading the polls. The Hebrew word for "monkey" can also be underworld slang for a front man placed before the public while others operate behind the scenes. Yashar compared Magal's remark to entertainer Dudu Topaz's insult of Mizrahi Likud voters at a 1981 election rally and put up billboards accusing Netanyahu and Magal of disparaging Mizrahim. A day after the remark, panelist Yotam Zimri repeated the term on the same program.
People in this case
Yinon MagalDirectly involved
Gadi EisenkotDirectly involved
Benjamin NetanyahuDirectly involved
Itamar Ben-GvirDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 17, 2026 to October 18, 2026
October 2026
Magal calls Eisenkot a "monkey" on "The Patriots"
Incident
During a discussion on the Channel 14 program, host Yinon Magal repeatedly calls Gadi Eisenkot a monkey, says Ashkenazi elites stand behind him and run him, and names Eisenkot's campaign manager, Ronen Manelis, as the one telling him what to say.
[01]The Jerusalem Post
Jerusalem Post report on Yinon Magal's remarks about Gadi Eisenkot on the Channel 14 program "The Patriots" on October 17, 2026, with the remarks in English translation and Eisenkot's response at an election rally.
Yinon Magal targets Gadi Eisenkot with 'monkey' remark on Channel 14 · The Jerusalem PostArticle text, paragraphs 1-6Magal posts a video saying he used an underworld expression
Reaction
Magal posts a video on X saying he called Eisenkot a monkey as an expression borrowed from the criminal underworld for a front man, not because of his looks, and calling the uproar another fake controversy.
[02]Yinon Magal on X: video response to the controversy over his remark
Post by Yinon Magal with a video in which he explains his on-air remark about Gadi Eisenkot. The post text and video are in Hebrew.
Yinon Magal on X: video response to the controversy over his remarkX post 2111547654945886441 with a 1:54 video, October 17, 2026 at 10:59 p.m. Israel time[03]Did Yinon Magal call Eisenkot a 'monkey'? TV host clarifies remarks
Israel National News report on the video in which Yinon Magal explained his remark about Gadi Eisenkot, with the Yashar party's statement and Eisenkot's response at an election rally, in English translation.
Did Yinon Magal call Eisenkot a 'monkey'? TV host clarifies remarksArticle text, paragraphs 1-14Yashar puts up billboards accusing Netanyahu and Magal of disparaging Mizrahim
Reaction
Eisenkot's Yashar party puts up billboards accusing Netanyahu and Magal of disparaging Mizrahim, and Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman calls Magal Netanyahu's chief mouthpiece and links the remark to earlier comments by a Netanyahu spokesman.
[04]The Times of Israel
Times of Israel report on Benjamin Netanyahu's October 18, 2026 interview with Radio North 104.5FM about Yinon Magal's remark, with reactions from Gadi Eisenkot, the Yashar party, Avigdor Liberman and others.
Netanyahu condemns 'monkey' slur against Eisenkot, claims Likud members face worse · The Times of IsraelArticle text, paragraphs 1-24A second panelist repeats the term on the same program
Incident
On "The Patriots" the following evening, panelist Yotam Zimri says in English that Donald Trump had effectively told Israelis to "choose Bibi, not the monkey" while discussing Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu, drawing laughter from fellow panelists including Magal.
[05]The Jerusalem Post
Jerusalem Post report on panelist Yotam Zimri repeating the term on "The Patriots" on October 18, 2026, during a discussion of Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu.
Channel 14 panelist calls Gadi Eisenkot 'monkey' after Donald Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu · The Jerusalem PostArticle text, paragraphs 1-8
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What was said
Attributed statement
Galia Albin and others have called Likud supporters chimpanzees and baboons.
What is disputed
The Times of Israel reported that Albin appears not to have made such comments and that it is unclear whether there is any connection between her and Eisenkot. Albin, a businesswoman, drew criticism for mocking Sephardic Likud voters on a podcast by chanting Netanyahu's nickname and questioning their ability to think independently.
Sources (1)
- Netanyahu condemns 'monkey' slur against Eisenkot, claims Likud members face worse · The Times of IsraelArticle text, paragraphs 1-24
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Magal called Eisenkot a monkey as an underworld expression for a front man controlled by others, not as a racial insult.
What is disputed
On air, Magal also asked whether a fellow panelist was impressed that Eisenkot is Mizrahi and said, in English translation, "They gave you a Moroccan prime minister". Critics, including Eisenkot's Yashar party and Avigdor Liberman, called the remark racist. The Hebrew word for monkey can also be underworld slang for a front man, and Itamar Ben-Gvir said Magal had used it in that political sense.
Sources (3)
- Did Yinon Magal call Eisenkot a 'monkey'? TV host clarifies remarksArticle text, paragraphs 1-14
- Yinon Magal targets Gadi Eisenkot with 'monkey' remark on Channel 14 · The Jerusalem PostArticle text, paragraphs 1-6
- Netanyahu condemns 'monkey' slur against Eisenkot, claims Likud members face worse · The Times of IsraelArticle text, paragraphs 1-24
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
4 responses. Newest first.
Benjamin NetanyahuPrime minister of Israel and Likud chairman, in an interview with Radio North 104.5FMDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Asked about Magal's remark in an interview with Radio North 104.5FM, Netanyahu responds after the remark drew accusations of racism and Yashar criticized him for not condemning it.
"That is a highly inappropriate remark, and I condemn it (Translated from Hebrew. Original: זו אמירה מאוד לא ראויה, אני מגנה אותה)"
CondemnedResponding to: Galia Albin and others have called Likud supporters chimpanzees and baboons.
Full statement and sources
In a radio interview the morning after the broadcast, Netanyahu calls Magal's remark highly inappropriate and says he condemns it, then says Eisenkot should condemn insults directed at Likud voters.
After the statement
Netanyahu then says he would have liked Eisenkot to condemn remarks by businesswoman Galia Albin and others calling Likud supporters chimpanzees and baboons, and says contempt for Likud voters is a daily occurrence.
Netanyahu condemns 'monkey' slur against Eisenkot, claims Likud members face worse · The Times of IsraelArticle text, paragraphs 1-24נתניהו בתגובה ראשונה לסערת ינון מגל: "הלוואי שזה היה חד פעמי"Article text, paragraphs 1-5 (Hebrew)Why this label?
The reference point is Magal's on-air remark calling Gadi Eisenkot a monkey run by Ashkenazi elites. Netanyahu calls the remark highly inappropriate and says he condemns it. His added criticism of Eisenkot over insults he says target Likud voters does not withdraw that condemnation.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Gadi EisenkotChairman of the Yashar party and former IDF chief of staff, speaking at a conference on the communities near the Gaza borderDirectly involvedBefore this statement
At a conference on the communities near the Gaza border, Eisenkot describes Magal's remark as delusional, calls the Channel 14 host a contemptible person and says nobody asked him about his parents' origins.
"Last week he talked about bereaved families. The voice is Yinon's voice and the hands are Netanyahu's hands (Translated from Hebrew. Original: שבוע שעבר הוא דיבר על משפחות שכולות. הקול קול ינון והידיים ידי נתניהו)"
CondemnedCase context: Channel 14 host Yinon Magal calls Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey"; Netanyahu condemns the remark but says Likud voters are insulted every day
Full statement and sources
Speaking the day after the broadcast, Eisenkot says Magal spoke about bereaved families the week before and that the voice is Magal's but the hands are Netanyahu's.
After the statement
Eisenkot also accuses Netanyahu of hiding the Mizrahim in his own party.
נתניהו בתגובה ראשונה לסערת ינון מגל: "הלוואי שזה היה חד פעמי"Article text, paragraphs 1-5 (Hebrew)Why this label?
The reference point is Magal's on-air remark calling Eisenkot a monkey run by Ashkenazi elites. Eisenkot, the target of the remark, describes it as delusional, calls Magal contemptible and says Netanyahu stands behind him, which condemns the remark.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Itamar Ben-GvirIsraeli national security minister and Otzma Yehudit chairman, in a post on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Ben-Gvir writes that he has known Magal for years, that trying to paint him as a racist is laughable, and that Magal was among the first to give him airtime when others would not. He says he is a proud Mizrahi.
"It is clear to everyone that Yinon used the expression "monkey" in a political context, when what he meant, in his words, was a straw candidate run by others. Going from there to turning his words into a racist statement against Mizrahim is a complete distortion of what was said (Translated from Hebrew. Original: לכולם ברור שינון השתמש בביטוי "קוף" בהקשר פוליטי, כשהכוונה לדבריו הייתה למועמד קש שמריצים אחרים. מכאן ועד להפוך את הדברים לאמירה גזענית נגד מזרחים - הוא סילוף מוחלט של הדברים)"
Defended or excusedResponding to: Magal called Eisenkot a monkey as an underworld expression for a front man controlled by others, not as a racial insult.
Full statement and sources
Ben-Gvir writes on X that Magal used the word monkey in a political sense, for a straw candidate run by others, and that calling it a racist statement against Mizrahim distorts what was said.
After the statement
Ben-Gvir says the same is being attempted against Netanyahu, who he says never treated him or anyone else differently because of ethnic background, and tells Magal not to let the noise silence him.
Itamar Ben-Gvir on X: defense of Yinon MagalX post 2111692630035771813, October 18, 2026 at 8:35 a.m. Israel time, paragraphs 1-7Why this label?
The reference point is Magal's on-air remark calling Gadi Eisenkot a monkey run by Ashkenazi elites, which critics called a racist slur. Ben-Gvir says the word was used in a political sense and that treating it as racist distorts it, which defends the remark.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Yinon MagalHost of "The Patriots" on Channel 14, in a video posted on XDirectly involvedBefore this statement
Hours after the Channel 14 broadcast in which he called Eisenkot a monkey, Magal posts a video on X explaining the remark.
"My response to another fake "Yinon Magal controversy" (Translated from Hebrew. Original: תגובתי לעוד פייק "סערת ינון מגל")"
Challenged the characterizationResponding to: Magal called Eisenkot a monkey as an underworld expression for a front man controlled by others, not as a racial insult.
Full statement and sources
Posting a video on X hours after the broadcast, Magal calls the uproar over his remark another fake controversy. In the video he says he used the word as an underworld expression for a front man controlled by others.
After the statement
In the video, Magal says he called Eisenkot a monkey not because he is ugly or looks like a monkey but as an expression borrowed from the criminal underworld for someone put out front and controlled from behind. He says the headlines and responses that followed are a lie.
Yinon Magal on X: video response to the controversy over his remarkX post 2111547654945886441 with a 1:54 video, October 17, 2026 at 10:59 p.m. Israel timeDid Yinon Magal call Eisenkot a 'monkey'? TV host clarifies remarksArticle text, paragraphs 1-14Why this label?
The reference point is Magal's on-air remark calling Gadi Eisenkot a monkey run by Ashkenazi elites, which critics called a racist slur. Magal calls the controversy fake and says he meant an underworld expression for a front man, which disputes the description of the remark as racist rather than defending a racial insult.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(7)
Reporting
Yinon Magal targets Gadi Eisenkot with 'monkey' remark on Channel 14
Relevant passage: Article text, paragraphs 1-6
About this source
Jerusalem Post report on Yinon Magal's remarks about Gadi Eisenkot on the Channel 14 program "The Patriots" on October 17, 2026, with the remarks in English translation and Eisenkot's response at an election rally.
- Author
- Avi Solomon
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Channel 14 panelist calls Gadi Eisenkot 'monkey' after Donald Trump endorses Benjamin Netanyahu
Relevant passage: Article text, paragraphs 1-8
About this source
Jerusalem Post report on panelist Yotam Zimri repeating the term on "The Patriots" on October 18, 2026, during a discussion of Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu.
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Itamar Ben-Gvir on X: defense of Yinon Magal
About this source
Hebrew post by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir responding to the criticism of Yinon Magal's remark about Gadi Eisenkot.
- Author
- Itamar Ben-Gvir (@itamarbengvir)
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
Yinon Magal on X: video response to the controversy over his remark
About this source
Post by Yinon Magal with a video in which he explains his on-air remark about Gadi Eisenkot. The post text and video are in Hebrew.
- Author
- Yinon Magal (@YinonMagal)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Did Yinon Magal call Eisenkot a 'monkey'? TV host clarifies remarks
Relevant passage: Article text, paragraphs 1-14
About this source
Israel National News report on the video in which Yinon Magal explained his remark about Gadi Eisenkot, with the Yashar party's statement and Eisenkot's response at an election rally, in English translation.
- Author
- Israel National News
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
נתניהו בתגובה ראשונה לסערת ינון מגל: "הלוואי שזה היה חד פעמי"
Relevant passage: Article text, paragraphs 1-5 (Hebrew)
About this source
Hebrew report by the news site Kipa on Benjamin Netanyahu's Radio North interview about Yinon Magal's remark, with Netanyahu's words in the original Hebrew and Gadi Eisenkot's remarks at a conference on the communities near the Gaza border.
- Author
- Kipa News
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Netanyahu condemns 'monkey' slur against Eisenkot, claims Likud members face worse
Relevant passage: Article text, paragraphs 1-24
About this source
Times of Israel report on Benjamin Netanyahu's October 18, 2026 interview with Radio North 104.5FM about Yinon Magal's remark, with reactions from Gadi Eisenkot, the Yashar party, Avigdor Liberman and others.
- Author
- Stav Levaton and Times of Israel staff
- Published
- Accessed
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Cite this record
- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- Channel 14 host Yinon Magal calls Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey"; Netanyahu condemns the remark but says Likud voters are insulted every day
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/yinon-magal-eisenkot-monkey-remark
The Dispute Index. "Channel 14 host Yinon Magal calls Gadi Eisenkot a "monkey"; Netanyahu condemns the remark but says Likud voters are insulted every day". First published: 2026-10-21. Last updated: 2026-10-21. https://disputeindex.com/cases/yinon-magal-eisenkot-monkey-remark