A heated confrontation erupted Wednesday in the Knesset plenum after MK Merav Ben-Ari tore up a bill proposed by MK Galit Distel-Atbaryan concerning the placement of tefillin in public spaces.
The incident occurred during a debate on Distel-Atbaryan’s controversial proposal, often referred to by its supporters as the “Jewish Identity Law,” which seeks to anchor the right to lay tefillin in the public sphere. As Distel-Atbaryan addressed the plenum, Ben Ari rose from her seat, approached the podium, and ripped the printed text of the bill in full view of the chamber, shouting, “Shame on you.”
The act immediately triggered disorder in the plenum, with shouting and interruptions from lawmakers across the political spectrum.
