MK accidentally spills water on Goldknopf in Knesset session

The 26th Knesset opened with the expected tumult, but one MK added fuel to the fire, or more precisely, water. MK Merav Ben-Ari accidentally spilled water on United Torah Judaism MK Yitzchak Goldknopf in an incident captured by the Knesset Channel.

The mishap occurred during an Arrangements Committee session. Ben-Ari, visibly animated, made a careless movement and spilled water near Goldknopf. The brief moment drew amused reactions online, largely because of its resemblance to a famous water incident in the Knesset years earlier.

Awkward moment in the Knesset: Merav Ben-Ari spills water on Goldknopf (Photo: Knesset Channel)

Those who watched the footage were reminded of an incident in January 2012, when then-MK Anastasia Michaeli deliberately poured a glass of water on MK Raleb Majadele during a heated Education Committee debate.

That confrontation erupted during discussion of a school principal's decision in Ar'ara to take students to a human rights march. During the exchange, Majadele called Michaeli "insolent," and she responded: "You have no respect for this place or for a woman."

But Michaeli did not stop at words. She rose from her seat, filled a glass from a water bottle on the table, and poured it on Majadele, who was sitting beside her. MK Hanin Zoabi, seated nearby, was visibly shocked by the act.

Then-MK Anastasia Michaeli deliberately poured a glass of water on MK Raleb Majadele (Photo: Knesset Channel)

The 2012 incident sparked public and political uproar. Then-Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin filed a complaint with the Ethics Committee, and Michaeli sent a letter of apology. Despite this, the Ethics Committee decided to bar her from plenum and committee sessions for a month, though she was permitted to participate in votes.