Army Radio chief Yaron Dekel suspended the station's film critic Gidi Orsher on Saturday, following a controversial Facebook post by Orsher in which he derided Israel's Mizrahi community. The post, lambasted as racist, followed the public debate over a recent Education Ministry decision to introduce additional Mizrahi Jewish heritage studies into school curriculum. Orsher's post read, "All you professional Mizrahi whiners, the next time you have a heart attack, just skip the catheterization and fling a chicken leg over your head, or any other of your old wives' remedies. The next time you huddle in a secure room when missiles are flying over your heads, just ignore Iron Dome -- recite psalms or wait for the matriarch Rachel to protect you." The post earned scathing criticism from across the political spectrum. "The remarks made this weekend by Army Radio's film critic, blatantly and disgracefully defaming Mizrahi Jews, are reprehensible," Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "A man holding such racial biases has no place in public broadcasting in Israel. We must disregard the voices trying to create a rift between us, and we must work together to promote social unity in Israel." Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman backed Dekel's decision to suspend Orsher, saying, "Given the blatant nature of his [Orsher's] remarks, which cannot be misconstrued as anything but lashing out at an entire sector, it would be wise to make this temporary suspension a permanent one." Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev demanded Orsher be dismissed immediately, saying his "horrifically racist remarks ... proves how deeply the sense of condescension is ingrained among the Left's cultural 'elite.'" Opposition Leader Isaac Herzog (Zionist Union) said Orsher's post reflected "the need for a profound discussion about values, culture, education, traditions and beliefs -- a discussion devoid of racism, arrogance, ignorance, and stupidity." Army Radio issued a statement condemning Orsher's post: "There is no room for the kind of remarks made by Gidi Orsher and Army Radio unequivocally denounces them. Regardless of the fact that Orsher is not a station employee but rather a freelance worker, he was suspended pending further review of the matter. The station chief spoke with him and expressed his outrage over the remarks. We are an Israeli, public radio station and we will continue to serve as a platform for the Israeli public as a whole."
