Radio jockey Ron Kaufman apologized on the air Wednesday to Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin for calling Israel's lawmakers "drek" (the Yiddish word for "crap") and "scumbags," and adding that the Knesset building was a "shit lake," in which "shit fish" swam.
Addressing Rivlin, Kaufman said, "First of all I want to apologize to you personally. Like any other citizen, I too am critical of the Knesset and Israeli politics, but I apologize for my language and tone. I spoke from my gut."
Earlier this week it was reported that Rivlin sent a letter to the head of the Second Authority for Television and Radio, Menashe Samira, and the chairman of the press council, former supreme court judge Dalia Dorner, saying he was "appalled and sickened at the despicable comments made by journalist Ron Kaufman, directed at the Knesset and its members, which crossed a line of audacity bordering on incitement."
He threatened to sue Kaufman's radio station, Radio Tel Aviv 102FM, for libel over the comments. Rivlin said that "clear norms of ethics and dialogue must be established," adding that the "right to publicly express unorthodox, and even unpopular opinions does not amount to unlawfulness."
"The Knesset will not stand idly by in the face of such an unrestrained assault, nor is it allowed to do so," Rivlin said.
The Knesset Speaker also said that "the inappropriate things that were said on live radio crossed the line, defamed the Knesset, and were meant to demean and humiliate its members."
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