Image by Naomi Zeveloff

By Naomi Zeveloff November 1, 2016

A discount lingerie shop in Tel Aviv’s gritty bus station has made an unexpected political statement about the American elections with a sale on pussy panties — women’s underwear printed with a photograph of cat’s face and neck in the crotch area.

I first spotted the panties last week and they seemed to me the perfect comment on Donald Trump’s boast on the Access Hollywood tape that he would grab women “by the pussy.” They cost 10 shekels (about $2.60) a pair.

When I posted a photograph of the panties online, more than a dozen friends wanted to know how to get them. I know of at least three people — two Americans and one Israeli — in Tel Aviv who have purchased the panties for their friends. They are posting their panty photos online too.

Forwarding the News

Thoughtful, balanced reporting from the Forward and around the web, bringing you updated news and analysis of the crisis each day.

Terms(Required)

I agree to the Forward's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy

Email(Required)

@naomizeveloff I found her! She said everyone is coming for the pussy today and asked if I was also here for “the competition Donald Trump.” I bought 5. “He touches women,” she said. “I don’t like him.” #pussygrabsback @naomizeveloff makes waves. Again.

A photo posted by Shaina (@shainashealy) on Nov 1, 2016 at 6:46am PDT

Ophira Shorek, the 50-year-old manager of the store, called Zizana, was tickled to know that her pussy panties are making a splash among Americans in Tel Aviv and beyond with an eye toward the election.

She said that the political message was completely unintentional. The owner bought a bulk order of 4,000 pairs from China. Most of her customers are Israeli women who think the panties are cute.

Shorek called Trump a “clown,” and said that she’s glad her pussy panties are being seen as a protest against him.

If Trump came to Israel, she said, women would grab him right back.

Contact Naomi Zeveloff at [email protected] or on Twitter @naomizeveloff

A message from our CEO & publisher Rachel Fishman Feddersen

I hope you appreciated this article. Before you move on, I wanted to ask you to support the Forward’s award-winning journalism during our High Holiday Monthly Donor Drive.

This year, we have stood together in strength and sorrow. Our Forward team has worked around the clock to help you find clarity amid the chaos.

If you’ve turned to the Forward in the past 12 months to better understand the world around you, we hope you will support us with a gift now. Your support has a direct impact, giving us the resources we need to report from Israel and around the U.S., across college campuses, and wherever there is news of importance to American Jews.

Make a monthly or one-time gift and support Jewish journalism throughout 5785. The first six months of your monthly gift will be matched for twice the investment in independent Jewish journalism. 

—  Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO

Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.

$36 $500

$120 $180 Other amount