MK Throws Glass of Water in Anger

By Nathan Burstein January 9, 2012

She sure knows how to make a splash at the Knesset.

Right-wing legislator Anastasia Michaeli got into a heated war of words with fellow MK Raleb Majadele today, then cooled off the situation by throwing a glass of water in his face. The one-way water fight, which took place during a meeting of the Knesset’s education committee, was caught on camera by Israel’s Channel 7.

Michaeli, a Russian-born member of the right-wing Yisrael Beiteinu party, suggested afterwards that Majadele, a member of the Labor party, had “attacked me as a woman,” and both said they would file complaints with the Knesset ethics committee. The Israeli media quickly noted that this is not the first time the volatile Michaeli has gotten physical with an Arab legislator: in August, the 36-year-old was harshly reprimanded by the ethics committee after attempting to prevent MK Hanin Zoabi from addressing the Knesset by grabbing the microphone. Michaeli had previously caused controversy by reportedly saying that Israel should not be represented at an international singing competition by a performer who “looks Arab.”

Michaeli attacked Majadele during a discussion about proposed disciplinary action against a principal in southern Israel who had taken students on a human rights march in Tel Aviv.

Majadele, a former minister of education, culture and sports, is currently a deputy speaker of the Knesset.

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