Gavri Banai: "They have sidelocks and tzitzit down to the floor, they don't shower. Savages"
Actor Gavri Banai addressed the fear of his industry colleagues to express political opinions, and did not hesitate to make particularly harsh statements about what is happening in the West Bank, which sparked an immediate uproar.
Actor Gavri Banai, best known as a member of the "HaGashash HaHiver" trio and a recipient of the Israel Prize (2000) and the AMI Lifetime Achievement Award (2022), was a guest on Guy Peleg's podcast (All In studio). During the discussion, he addressed the activities of the "hilltop youth" in the West Bank and expressed his position regarding Israel's control over the West Bank and East Jerusalem since the Six-Day War.
"What is happening now in the West Bank is a scandal like no other. People, teenagers... by the way, only the rabbis are pushing them. I have never heard of such a thing. They have sidelocks and tzitzit down to the floor, they don't shower, they don't shave, nothing. They are savages... Who sends them? On Friday and Saturday they come because they are told it is a commandment, the redemption of the land. They find a sentence from the Tanakh for everything. These are terrible and awful things. These are people with children and babies, I don't understand," said Banai.
"The redemption of the land, they find a sentence from the Tanakh for everything" | Gavri Banai on the radicals in the West Bank in the new episode of "The Guy Peleg Podcast" | Available for listening on all platforms.
Guy Peleg, known for his controversial style, turned to Gavri Banai and asked: "You are not afraid to get the word 'occupation' out of your mouth?" The veteran actor did not hesitate and replied: "But it is true."
Peleg chose not to confront Banai on the issue, but noted that many Israeli artists avoid expressing themselves politically for fear that their careers might be harmed. "I am not arguing with you if it is true, I am asking if you understand that this is an exception in the landscape of Israeli artists who prefer not to wave a flag, not to say 'occupation', not to go out to a demonstration, and not to talk about the injustices of the occupation." In response, Banai noted: "Because this country is very, very unaccepting of the opinions of others. I don't care, I am at such an age that it goes right over my head."
