Political Bombshell – Netanyahu Aide Caught in Explosive Leaked Rant Trashing Likud Base with Racist Slurs and Declaring Prime Minister Finished
A major political scandal erupted in Israel on Tuesday evening when one of Benjamin Netanyahu’s most senior and trusted aides was exposed for making deeply offensive private remarks that included racist insults against Mizrahi Jews, harsh attacks on the Netanyahu family, and predictions that the prime minister’s career is over following the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Ziv Agmon, a lawyer who has risen rapidly to become Netanyahu’s de facto chief of staff and primary spokesperson during the ongoing war, was recorded in closed-door conversations, phone calls, and messages making the inflammatory statements. The leaks, first reported by Israeli media outlet Mako, reveal a stark contrast between Agmon’s public loyalty to Netanyahu and his private contempt for the prime minister, his inner circle, and core Likud supporters.
Agmon, who previously ran unsuccessfully in the Likud primaries in 2022 and even attempted to join Benny Gantz’s National Camp list, has served as a key gatekeeper for Netanyahu, shielding him from other staff and outsiders amid the multi-front conflict. His rapid ascent followed the departure or suspension of several other top aides.
Among the most shocking comments were repeated slurs targeting Mizrahi Jews, who form a significant portion of the Likud party’s voter base. Agmon reportedly referred to Moroccan-origin figures with derogatory terms, calling one lawmaker “from Bon” in a play on slang for monkey or ape, and labeling others as “Moroccan idiot” or “Kahane supporter.” He mocked the party’s primary list as filled with “freemasons” and “monkeys,” suggesting it was so flawed it needed a wanted ad for criminals.
In remarks about the Netanyahu family, Agmon criticized Sara Netanyahu, saying that female lawmakers know “only flattery works” with her. He also attacked the prime minister’s son Yair, claiming he improperly obtained a diplomatic passport from then-Foreign Minister Eli Cohen without justification.
On Netanyahu himself, Agmon declared that “Bibi is finished” and that “the question is whether a state will even remain.” He suggested the prime minister should “go home” and claimed Likud had “finished its career.” Agmon even floated the idea that Egypt should release a recording of a conversation with Netanyahu to prove he ignored prior warnings before the October 7 attack.
Additional comments targeted coalition partners, with Agmon accusing the ultra-Orthodox Shas party of knowing only “how to take money.” He mocked opposition leader Yair Lapid and, during past primaries, derided the Likud list as needing recruits like “rapists and murderers” since it already included thieves and other criminals. When trying to switch to Gantz’s list, he reportedly said he was “much more suitable for him than for the monkeys.”
The revelations come at a sensitive time for Netanyahu’s government, which continues to navigate the aftermath of the October 7 massacre, the war in Gaza, and tensions on multiple borders. Netanyahu’s inner circle has faced repeated instability, with aides coming and going amid investigations and internal clashes.
Israeli political observers note that the scandal highlights deep fractures within the right-wing camp, including apparent elitist disdain from some insiders toward the very Mizrahi communities that have long been a backbone of Likud support. It also fuels ongoing narratives about infighting and hypocrisy at the highest levels of power.
As of Tuesday evening, there was no immediate public response from Netanyahu’s office regarding the leaked statements.
Likud Knesset members (Illouz, Revivo, and Bar’on) are calling on Netanyahu to immediately fire Ziv Agmon
