Prime Minister Ziv Agmon's spokesman announced this evening (Wednesday) that he has decided to resign from his position - a day after senior political commentator Amit Segal published racist quotes in his name.
In a statement he issued, he announced his retirement from his position in the Prime Minister's Office and from public life. "I express my deepest condolences to everyone who was hurt," he wrote, emphasizing that the comments did not reflect his values.
According to a report by Michael Shemesh, Agmon continued in his position today until the last minute, including participating in consultations and talks in the Prime Minister's Office until the evening.
Here is the full retirement announcement:
""About two years ago, I decided to join the public sector. I did so out of a sense of mission after I succeeded in my business and became financially stable, and as part of my desire to give back to my country that has given me so much.".
During this period, I worked day and night, seven days a week, under war, challenges, and crises, all to provide for ourselves and ensure a better reality for our children.
Unfortunately, last week, a person with whom I had a long-standing friendship decided to share excerpts from our private conversations. The vast majority of the conversations took place before I took up my position in the Prime Minister's Office. The quotes that were shared were taken out of context and their sole purpose was to create a character assassination against me and to harm the Prime Minister whom I serve.
The publications about me from yesterday are as far removed from me, my views and values as the East is from the West. The attempt to attribute racist motives to my words against the Moroccan public is ridiculous in light of the fact that my nuclear family has Moroccan roots.
The attempt to take fragments of sentences from personal and private conversations, most of which were made years ago, to make them public and present them as the current and official positions of their speaker must be condemned.
And yet, I deeply regret everything to anyone who was hurt by the things attributed to me.
As mentioned, I took up my position in the Prime Minister's Office to assist and contribute behind the scenes. Up until this moment, I was completely focused on this sacred mission, for the benefit of all citizens of Israel without exception.
We are in fateful days that require us all to stand firm in unity and shared destiny. However, when I discovered that I had been brought to the forefront against my will, and a divisive discourse was being created around me, I decided to inform the Prime Minister of the end of my duties and my retirement from public life.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The greatest privilege in my life is to assist him in these historic days, alongside Mrs. Sara Netanyahu, whose steadfast stance strengthens the Prime Minister and the entire cabinet.
"Wherever I am, I will serve as an ambassador for our beloved country.".
In an article published on News 12, unprecedentedly harsh statements by the resigning spokesman were revealed.
Agmon was quoted as harshly racially attacking Likud voters and Knesset members, disparaging ministers and members of the Netanyahu family, and stating that the prime minister's term must end.
According to the report, Agmon spoke offensively towards Mizrahi Jews: "Now we know where our Moroccans came from. From Africa. A baboon is a monkey." He personally attacked Knesset members from his party: "Vaturi is a baboon, Revivo is a retarded Moroccan. Eli Dellal is a clown. It's a shame we can't reserve the entire list and finish the primaries.".
Agmon did not spare criticism of the prime minister himself, even before he began working alongside him: "Bibi is finished. The question is whether the country will remain. He must go home... a finished country.".
He even referred to the Prime Minister's son, Yair Netanyahu: "Yair came to the Foreign Ministry and forced Eli Cohen to issue him a diplomatic passport, even though there is no justification for it." He also said about the Prime Minister's wife: "The stupid Knesset members understand with Sara that only flattery works.".
Regarding the Shas party, he said: "Shas - they only know how to take money, this party.".
Join the Haredim 10 Facebook page >>
Join the X page of Haredim 10 >>
Want more news, videos and stories? Join the Haredim 10 WhatsApp channel >>
