Margalit attack video raises uproar

In the video, MK Erel Margalit tried to explain why his party lost last year's election, while repeatedly criticizing figures in Likud and the Right.

By GIL STERN STERN HOFFMAN

APRIL 20, 2016 21:59

Updated: APRIL 21, 2016 00:31

MK Erel Margalit (photo credit: JPOST STAFF) — MK Erel Margalit

(photo credit: JPOST STAFF)

A provocative video in which Zionist Union MK Erel Margalit repeatedly used swear words in an effort to urge people to join his party caused a political storm on Wednesday.

In the video, Margalit tried to explain why his party lost last year’s election, while repeatedly criticizing figures in Likud and the Right.

“We failed because we let them shriek and feel they were right,” Margalit explained as the video opened. “Look at how many psychopaths they grew. The only gun [Likud MK] Oren Hazan held was a water gun at a pool party at a casino in Bulgaria.”

Margalit, who is a likely Labor leadership candidate, made reference to a controversial speech eight days before the March 17 election by artist Yair Garbuz, who said that Israel was under the control of “mezuza kissers.”

The MK also spoke about an activist who put an Israeli flag in his behind at a conference hosted by Haaretz last month.

“We failed because we abandoned the street to people who put a flag in their ass instead of waving it with pride,” Margalit said.” We failed because we attacked mezuza kissers instead of simply kissing them. We failed because we were silent.”

He then turned his diatribe to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud.

“We failed because we were afraid to tell people that Netanyahu, Mr.

Security, released more terrorists than anyone in the history of the state and that he is the first prime minister to go against Hamas and end up a tie, he said.”

Turning to socioeconomic issues, Margalit, a millionaire venture capitalist, boasted of several non-profit organizations he has formed that have helped poor people in Jerusalem, the North and South, as well as companies he founded in those areas.

“I have done more for the periphery in one week than [Likud culture minister] Miri Regev will in her life,” he said. “I founded companies in Jerusalem, Beersheba and Kiryat Shmona. The Likud doesn’t even pee in the direction of the periphery.”

Margalit concluded the video by urging the Likud to “return the state to us and go to hell!” Privately, Zionist Union Knesset members said the video offended them and went too far. MK Eitan Cabel limited himself to saying that he would not put out such a video.

MK Miki Rosenthal went further in openly criticizing Margalit and blaming the video on his new strategist, Moshe Klughaft, who has worked for Bayit Yehudi.

“The path to losing it all is paved with cuss words,” Rosenthal said.

“He is making a mockery of himself.

This is what happens when you let advisers take over.”