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Israeli Academic Sparks Outrage with Racist Remarks about Sephardi Jews and Likud Voters
Edited by: Fern Sidman
A storm of condemnation has erupted across Israeli society following controversial comments by Professor Avshalom Elitzur, a prominent academic who made racist and derogatory statements about Sephardi Jews and Likud voters during a recent podcast appearance. Elitzur’s remarks, described as deeply offensive and divisive, have sparked outrage and calls for his removal from educational spaces. As reported by Vois Es Nais, the fallout from his statements has reverberated widely, with public figures and advocacy groups demanding accountability.
In Shocking Podcast, Israeli Professor Slams Sephardic ‘Arab Mentality’, Dubs Ministers ‘Baboons, Idiots’*
JERUSALEM (VINnews) — A prominent Israeli academic, Professor Avshalom Elitzur, has sparked outrage after making racist and derogatory comments about Sephardi Jews and… pic.twitter.com/F4UaH27Rr1
— The Jewish Voice (@TJVNEWS) November 20, 2024
During the podcast, Elitzur, a former lecturer at Bar-Ilan University and a self-taught physicist, made inflammatory remarks about the cultural and political dynamics in Israel. The Vois Es Nais report indicated that he derisively suggested that Sephardi Jews could be distinguished by their skin pigment and described Likud voters—many of whom are Sephardi—as possessing “an Arab mentality that admires dictators.” He went further, characterizing Sephardi Jews as “extreme Arab haters with a huge inferiority complex.”
Elitzur didn’t stop at broad generalizations. He singled out specific ministers for ridicule, referring to Minister Dudi Amsalem as a “baboon” and dismissing Minister Miri Regev as “an idiot who couldn’t sell sausages.” He also drew a disturbing comparison between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Nazi collaborators Quisling and Pétain. Vois Es Nais highlighted the widespread anger his comments have ignited, particularly during a time of heightened national sensitivity and a need for unity.
The backlash was swift, with advocacy group Ad Kan leading efforts to hold Elitzur accountable. The organization petitioned the Ministry of Education to ban him from speaking at schools, where he has frequently lectured. According to the information provided in the Vois Es Nais report, Ad Kan expressed concerns that Elitzur’s political messaging, including recent critiques of the Netanyahu and Trump administrations at a Tel Aviv high school, could influence young minds inappropriately.
Education Minister Yoav Kisch responded decisively, condemning Elitzur’s remarks as “hatred, incitement, and racism.” Kisch issued a formal directive barring Elitzur from participating in the educational system, emphasizing the need to protect students from exposure to such divisive rhetoric. According to the report at Vois Es Nais, this action reflects a broader effort to maintain unity and uphold respect within Israel’s schools during a turbulent period.
Elitzur’s comments have been met with widespread denunciation from across the political and cultural spectrum. Sephardi academics and professionals have pushed back against his remarks, pointing out their baseless nature and highlighting the achievements of Sephardi Jews in Israeli society. “This isn’t just about Netanyahu—it’s pure racism against Mizrahi Jews,” said one panelist in a televised discussion. Vois Es Nais reported on statements from a Sephardi lawyer with an advanced degree from the same university where Elitzur once taught, challenging the academic’s credibility and motivations.
The incident has also prompted legal repercussions. Minister Dudi Amsalem filed both a police complaint and a defamation lawsuit against Elitzur, citing the personal nature of the insults. The Vois Es Nais report also said that this is not Elitzur’s first legal controversy; he is already embroiled in another defamation suit from Israeli military analyst Eliyahu Yosian.
Critics of Elitzur have emphasized that his views represent the extreme margins of Israeli society and do not reflect the broader academic or public opinion. They have called on other academics to denounce Elitzur’s statements and reinforce a message of inclusivity. As reported by Vois Es Nais, this controversy unfolds against the backdrop of broader concerns about divisive rhetoric and its impact on national unity, particularly during a time of war.
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