MK Michaeli throws water in MK Majadele's face
Yisrael Beiteinu lawmaker decided to help Labor MK 'cool off' after he calls her 'fascist' during heated debate at Knesset's Education Committee meeting
Knesset Member Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) threw water in MK Ghaleb Majadele's face Monday, during a Knesset's Education, Culture and Sports Committee meeting, after he called her a "fascist."
"Majadele will learn not to insult women. He hurt the honor of the Knesset and of this place," Michaeli said afterwards.
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A confrontation broke out between Arab MKs and Michaeli after the latter spoke against the principal who decided to take his students to a human rights march in the Arab town of Arara in the Galilee.
The Arab MKs called Michaeli a "fascist" and "impudent". Majadele asked that Committee Chariman MK Alex Miller (Yisrael Beiteinu) silence Michaeli. In response Michaeli poured a glass of water on Majadele, who then said: "What are you doing? You're crazy."
"Majadele is going to learn how to speak to women. I intend to file a complaint with the Ethics Committee," Michaeli claimed.
"This incident must be taken seriously," said Majadele. "A Knesset member has never taken a glass of water and poured it on a colleague before. I had the floor, and the committee chairman belongs to her faction. I don't suspect anything, on the contrary. She poured water on me, on my face and clothes, because of the topic of discussion on today's agenda. It's my right to talk about it."
Rivlin files complaint
In response to the claim he had insulted Michaeli, Majadele explained: "What I said was in line with the accepted regulations of the place. I didn't use any offensive words to hurt her honor and status. When she continued to disrupt I told her: 'Please shut up.'"
"On the one hand, Majadele's words are worthless. But on the other hand, the times when a man can curse a woman in public, offend her and act violently are over. Times have changed. I won't let anyone, as dignified a Knesset member he may be, the privilege to act violently. Especially not in the Knesset," stressed Michaeli. "Water is great way to cool down. For a Knesset member, water is a small price to pay because (the price) for getting arrested for violence towards women is much higher."
Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin said that he would file a complaint with the Knesset Ethics Committee against Michaeli over the incident.
Rivlin said: "It was with deep sorrow that I heard of the incident in the Education Committee. This is an act that hurts the entire Knesset and it cannot be ignored - and so I will file a complaint with the Ethics Committee."
Yisrael Beiteinu chided Michaeli for the incident, saying that "no circumstances justify this kind of behavior.
"The Yisrael Beiteinu faction requires its members, and all members of the house… to avoid all unparliamentarily behavior," the faction said in a statement.
Meanwhile, the party also blasted Majadele for provoking Michaeli: "We must condemn Raleb Majadele's hurtful statements, which triggered MK Michaeli's outburst," the statement said. "We hope that this kind of incident won't repeat itself in the Knesset."
Michaeli will face the Knesset's Ethics Committee on Tuesday. She will be allowed to explain her actions prior to the committee's decision on any sanctions against her.
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