From the Liveblog of
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Minister Zohar declares ‘cultural revolution,’ drawing online ridicule over association with Communist China
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Internet users mock Culture Minister Miki Zohar (Likud) after he promotes a new program of subsidized cultural events by proclaiming a “cultural revolution,” a term usually associated with one of the worst periods in the history of Communist China.
“I am happy to announce that today we have set out on a revolutionary program that will finally bring high-quality performances featuring beloved artists to all citizens of Israel, in every part of the Land of Israel,” Zohar posts on X alongside an image of himself emblazoned with the slogan “Cultural revolution Israel 2026.”
The 1966-1976 Cultural Revolution was a period of social turmoil and widespread political persecution in China that led to millions of deaths. During the Cultural Revolution, children turned on parents and students on teachers after the country’s leader, Mao Zedong, declared class war, convulsing the country in chaos and violence. The upheaval affected industry as well, including the critical steel sector.
Some social media users have created AI-generated images of Chinese Communist Party-style propaganda, while others have equated Zohar’s Likud party to the CCP.
In a lengthy post on X, The Democrats MK Efrat Rayten calls Zohar’s choice of terminology “disturbing and absurd,” noting that it is “historically associated with one of the darkest and most traumatic periods in China of the 1960s and 1970s. A period in which centralized rule used culture as a political tool: to mark enemies, silence criticism, erase heritage, and consolidate power.”
“The government in Israel, whether willingly or thoughtlessly, is signaling its intentions. Culture as a mechanism of power,” Rayten alleges.
Culture Minister Miki Zohar is getting roasted online for using the phrase "Cultural Revolution" to refer to one of his programs. I just saw this AI-generated image on Facebook making fun of him https://t.co/2TZpnpNBJx pic.twitter.com/4kQ0LBIBVC
— Sam Sokol (@SamuelSokol) April 29, 2026
Reuters contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.