Anastasia Michaeli is 1st MK to give birth during tenure

Yisrael Beiteinu parliament member delivers eighth son on Saturday night. 'I'm excited about giving birth in general, not about being an MK having a baby, even if I'm the first one to do so,' she tells Ynet

Amnon Meranda
Published: 07.05.09, 10:44 / Israel News

Knesset Member Anastasia Michaeli (Yisarel Beiteinu) delivered her eighth child on Saturday night, becoming the first Israeli parliament member to give birth during her tenure.

Michaeli's new son was born at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center at Tel Hashomer, weighing 3.4 kilograms (7.5 pounds).

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"I feel fine. The delivery was very swift," Michaeli told Ynet. "I'll leave the hospital and then decide what maternity leave to take."

Asked about the new parliament child's name, the MK replied, "I'm having doubts about the name and consulting the rabbi."

She added, "I'm excited about giving birth in general, not about being an MK having a baby, even if I'm the first to do so. The most important feeling is being a mother again. My midwife came to the hospital especially to help me. She has delivered my children five times, and the staff at Tel Hashomer is great."

MK Michaeli with some of her children (Photo: Moshik Lindenbaum)

MK Michaeli has been receiving greeting since the early morning hours. MK Zevulun Orlev (Habayit Hayehudi) telephoned and said, "I wish the number of Knesset seats Habayit Hayehudi wing in the next elections will be as the number of children you have."

For many years the Israeli Knesset has not been required to deal with the absence of an MK who had a baby. Only recently, ahead of Michaeli's delivery, the Ethics Committee ruled that an MK's postnatal absence from Knesset meetings had "reasonable justification".

In the current legal situation, a Knesset member is not defined as a worker and is therefore not entitled to maternity leave.

"It's clear that the right given to any workers, which is aimed at allowing her to rest following the delivery and nurture the bond between the parent and child, should also be granted to Knesset members," the committee members stated.

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