 |
| Knesset Member Meir Porush chained to podium |
(Scroll down for video) An ultra-Orthodox Jewish Knesset member was seen on video chaining himself to the parliament podium, while his fellow ultra-Orthodox Jewish Knesset members ripped their clothing, as lawmakers were set to finalize a new law that will draft ultra-Orthodox Jewish men into the Israeli military, according to video uploaded to the internet.
The Knesset plenum approved the Yesh Atid Party sponsored law at its first reading on Tuesday morning, prompting the dramatic acts of protest by ultra-Orthodox Jewish lawmakers. Ultra-Orthodox Jewish MKs declared a day of mourning and tore their shirts to signify their displeasure with the law.
The bill, which passed by a whopping 64 to 21 vote, will now be submitted to a special committee to prepare the bill for the second and third readings.
In the most dramatic display of discontent, MK Meir Porush of the United Torah Judaism party chained himself to the podium before the bill was put to a vote. "You turned the 15th day of Av, a happy day, into a day of mourning," he lamented. "Yeshiva students will continue to study the Torah, even if they are handcuffed," he said.
Knesset speaker Yuli Edelstein reprimanded the legislature and ordered him to leave the room. "This is a disgrace. You are only giving the Ethics Committee more work, and you spoiled the efforts of many other members, who spoke from the heart in a dignified manner," the speaker said.
The incident was preceded by speeches against the bill by ultra-Orthodox Jewish MKs.