Knesset splash: Zionist member douses Israeli-Arab colleague with water
The Guardian reports,
An ultranationalist Israeli parliament member faced possible suspension from the Knesset on Monday for hurling a cup of water at an Arab colleague when he told her to “shut up” during exchanges over school students attending human rights rally.
Ghaleb Majadleh, an Israeli Arab member of the Labour party, had protested at an education panel meeting to reprimand an Arab school principal for letting pupils attend a human rights group rally. “You are inciting against the state,” retorted Anastasia Michaeli, a member of the rightwing Yisrael Beitenu (Israel Our Home) party.
When Majadleh told her to “shut up” Michaeli rose from her seat, poured water into a plastic cup and threw it at Majadleh, hitting his face and jacket, before heading for the door.
Mrs. Michaeli’s party was founded in 1999 after the vision of “Revisionist Zionism,” with the aim, among other things, of “bringing the Zionist dream to life.” The party is fiercely nationalistic and opposed to Israeli Arabs in general.
Speaker Reuven Rivlin said he would lodge a complaint with the house’s ethics committee over Michaeli’s action, which he called “an insult to the entire Knesset”.
Israeli media said Michaeli could be suspended temporarily from her post. This is the second time she faces censure. She was removed from a debate a year ago after trying to interrupt a speech by another Arab parliamentarian, Haneen Zoabi.
Rivlin said the incident was part of “an atmosphere as though elections are soon to be held”. He said there was possibility of further “gimmicks and hijinks for which the Knesset and Israeli democracy are likely to pay the price.”