'There are things you cannot say in Israel'
Lawyer who slapped religious MK apologizes for incident, explains he lost family in the Holocaust and lost control after being called "worse than the Germans." MK's from both sides of political divide rush to attorney's defense
Justice Ministry official, Attorney Amnon De Hartog, apologized on Tuesday evening for slapping MK Yacov Cohen (United Torah Judaism) in the Knesset earlier in the day.
De Hartog tried to explain his reaction after MK Cohen told him he was "worse than the Germans" during a heated argument in the Knesset.
"My father was born in the Netherlands, he lost 20 family members in the Holocaust. After the war he came here to build a home in the land of Israel," said a tearful De Hartog.
"I decided to become a public official who struggles for equality for all sectors in Israel, I could not believe that something like this would be said about me. Calling someone in something like that in Israel, anywhere actually, to say they are worse than the Germans… these are words that are unacceptable in the world, certainly not in Israel. And so to be called that in the Israeli parliament…"
De Hartog said he regretted his actions following MK Cohen's insult: "I am very sorry for what happened. I have never raised my hand against anyone. I lost control and I apologize for marring MK Cohen's honor and that of the house of representatives.
"My father passed away six months ago, today a member of the Knesset of Israel comes up to me and calls me evil… 20 members of my family were murdered in Auschwitz, there are some things which cannot be said in Israel and an MK said to me. I apologize for hurting him and I regret it. I wonder, however, if under the circumstances my loss of control is that impossible to understand."
After the incident the Knesset presidency decided to permanently bar De Hartog from the Knesset. The attorney was questioned by police officers and released with certain restrictions; police said he was to stay away from the Knesset for a period of two weeks and forbade him from contacting MK Cohen.
Knesset members were shocked to learn De Hartog had physically assaulted an MK. MK Zvi Hendel (National Union-NRP) said in response: "Amnon De Hartog is a serious man, an honest and ideological man who is an example and a symbol of striving towards a government free of corruption. Few are those who could restrain themselves from slapping if Amnon indeed chose to do so to MK Cohen. I suggest we all take a deep breath and refrain from speaking harshly of him."
Meretz chairman MK Yossi Beilin said that "marking De Hartog as haredi public enemy number one borders on violence." Belin added that over the past few years De Hartog has become a menace in the eyes of strictly-Orthodox politicians "who have treated him in an unbearable manner." Firing him would be "a dream come true for the haredim" said Beilin.
