Navigate to News section

Haredi MK Handcuffs Himself to Knesset Podium

To protest ultra-Orthodox draft law, Meir Porush chains himself to the stand

by
Yair Rosenberg
July 23, 2013

The Knesset can be a pretty chaotic place on the best of days, and today was not one of its best days. Parliamentarians from all parties took to the floor to debate pending legislation, and in particular, the proposed law for drafting ultra-Orthodox yeshiva students into the IDF.

Then Rabbi Meir Porush of the Haredi United Torah Judaism party took the podium, and this is what happened (for subtitles, click “CC” if not already enabled):

Despite these theatrics, the bill passed its first reading in the Knesset, 66-29.

Yair Rosenberg is a senior writer at Tablet. Subscribe to his newsletter, listen to his music, and follow him on Twitter and Facebook.