Scandal Unveils Chaos in Netanyahu’s Inner Circle

A political leader speaking at a press conference

Netanyahu’s top aide called core Likud supporters “baboons” in leaked recordings, forcing the Israeli PM to fire him amid explosive party backlash.

Story Snapshot

Channel 12 exposed Ziv Agmon’s racist slurs against Mizrahi and Moroccan Jews, key Likud voters, plus insults to Netanyahu’s family and party.
Agmon initially denied remarks citing his own Mizrahi ties, then admitted, apologized, and quit public life on April 6, 2026.
Netanyahu ousted Agmon, appointing Ido Norden as successor after Likud MKs demanded action.
Scandal reveals deep divisions in Netanyahu’s inner circle during ongoing war and hostage crises.
Cross-party outrage highlights elite dysfunction alienating grassroots supporters on all sides.

Leaked Recordings Ignite Scandal

Channel 12 aired an investigative report featuring leaked phone recordings of Ziv Agmon, Netanyahu’s chief of staff and spokesman. Agmon referred to Jews of Moroccan and Mizrahi descent as “baboons” and “retarded Moroccans.” He disparaged Likud MKs like Amichai Chikli, Yoav Kisch, and Tally Gotliv. Agmon also mocked Netanyahu as “old” and “finished” after the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack. These remarks spanned years, including pre-2023 rants suggesting Likud’s Knesset list was a “job ad for rapists and murderers.”

Agmon’s Denial and Swift Downfall

Agmon denied the remarks that Tuesday evening, calling them an “injustice” and noting his own Moroccan family heritage. Pressure mounted from Likud MKs including Eliyahu Revivo, who deemed Agmon unfit, and Shlomo Karhi, targeted in the recordings. On April 5, Netanyahu announced Agmon’s departure for “stability,” naming Ido Norden successor. By April 6, Agmon resigned, admitted the comments, apologized for harm caused, and withdrew from public life. This rapid reversal underscores vulnerability in elite circles.

This turmoil echoes frustrations many Americans feel with unaccountable government insiders—what some call the “deep state”—who betray the base they claim to serve. Whether in Israel or here under President Trump’s second term, loyal supporters demand leaders purge disloyal aides spewing division. Limited government thrives on trust; scandals like this erode it, uniting conservatives and even some on the left against elite arrogance.

Internal Likud Divisions Exposed

Mizrahi Jews, from Middle Eastern and North African descent including Moroccans, form Likud’s voter backbone. Agmon’s slurs against ministers like Karhi and David Amsalem during hostage talks provoked outrage. MKs such as Revivo implied Netanyahu shared such views if retaining Agmon. Opposition figures—Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Avigdor Liberman, Yair Golan—seized the moment, decrying Netanyahu’s toxic circle. This unites critics across spectrum, mirroring bipartisan distrust of self-serving officials prioritizing power over people.

Netanyahu’s history of aide scandals—terrorism funding links, rape suspicions, secret recordings—now includes anti-Mizrahi racism from someone claiming those roots. Agmon’s gatekeeper role isolated the PM, fueling perceptions of Ashkenazi elite disdain for grassroots Mizrahim. Such infighting weakens resolve amid Israel-Hamas war fallout and protests.

Lasting Political Fallout

Short-term, Netanyahu’s team weakens, inviting opposition attacks and media scrutiny. Long-term, ethnic tensions within Likud risk eroding Mizrahi support, vital for elections. Socially, the scandal reignites Ashkenazi-Mizrahi divides in Israel’s diverse society. No economic impacts noted, but it reinforces narratives of post-October 7 government dysfunction. Likud insiders like Gotliv branded Agmon a “racist, fool, traitor,” demanding no tolerance. Channel 12’s Raviv Segal noted Agmon’s “meteoric rise” crashed spectacularly.