Likud MK issues rare rebuke of Netanyahu over choice to keep spokesman despite racist remarks

Members of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud Party voice rare criticism of their party leader after he announced that his spokesman, Ziv Agmon, would remain in his position despite a slew of racist remarks that he had made about Moroccan Jews.

Agmon had offered his resignation after his derogatory remarks about Likud lawmakers of Middle Eastern, or Mizrahi, descent were leaked to the press, but Netanyahu announced earlier this evening that Agmon had apologized and so would keep his job.

But the announcement appeared to catch Likud lawmakers off guard, with several breaking rank and issuing a rare rebuke of the premier.

“You cannot spit in our faces and tell us it’s raining,” fumed MK Eli Revivo, who was derided by Agmon as a “retarded Moroccan.”

“Anyone who chooses to keep him in his circles or as his envoy thinks like him, period,” Revivo declared of Agmon. “I will continue to fight the fight of Likud voters to ensure that such a person does not remain in any position of influence today or in the future.”

“Ziv Agmon is not worthy of serving alongside the prime minister… even if he apologized,” fumed MK Nissim Vaturi, whom Agmon had called a “baboon.”

“Ziv Agmon’s conduct cannot be normalized, not even temporarily,” MK Moshe Saada likewise warned. “He acted correctly by apologizing and taking responsibility, but he cannot serve in a symbolic and representative public role, not even for a day, even after apologizing.”