MK Amsalem says Mizrahim still blocked from centers of power, should hold senior positions in Likud

Minister Dudi Amsalem has asserted that Mizrahi Israelis continue to face significant obstacles in gaining equal representation within the country's elite power structures. In an interview, Amsalem stated, "not all Ashkenazim are racists, but almost all racists are Ashkenazi," directly linking the exclusion of Mizrahim to systemic biases.

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not all Ashkenazim are racists, but almost all racists are Ashkenazi.

Amsalem, who holds ministerial liaison roles, based his argument on the underrepresentation of Mizrahi Jews in key state institutions. He pointed to the absence of Moroccan judges on the Supreme Court, the lack of a Sephardi state attorney since Israel's founding, and limited Mizrahi representation in senior academic roles, particularly in law faculties. "When I see numbers that do not make sense, I understand that someone is arranging the numbers," Amsalem remarked, suggesting deliberate manipulation to maintain the status quo. He acknowledged Mizrahi success in business but stressed the lack of "real positions of power."

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When I see numbers that do not make sense, I understand that someone is arranging the numbers.

Addressing the ruling Likud party, Amsalem argued that Mizrahim should unequivocally hold the most senior portfolios, as he believes the majority of Likud voters are Mizrahi. He vowed to prevent any reduction in Mizrahi representation within the party, emphasizing that "Mizrahim will receive nothing without fighting for it." Amsalem also contested the notion that Likud has effectively controlled the state since 1977, arguing that the party has "not ruled, not even for 15 minutes." He suggested this perceived lack of true power was the impetus behind the government's push for judicial reform, claiming protests intensified only when the coalition sought to alter the balance of power.

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I am happy that you think all Mizrahim have money, that we are all truly equal in this country, and everything is fine.

On foreign policy, Amsalem commented on the situation with Hezbollah, stating that the United States is limiting Israel's offensive capabilities. He acknowledged US support but noted that Washington acts in its own interests, concluding, "We are ultimately on our own here." He stressed the necessity of US assistance in countering the Iranian nuclear threat, deeming it a matter of national survival.

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The Mizrahim should hold the most senior portfolios in Likud, unequivocally.