MK Anastassia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) poured a cup of water on her colleague MK Raleb Majadele (Labor) during an argument at a heated Knesset Education Committee debate on Monday morning.

The argument erupted after MK Danny Danon (Likud) called for the dismissal of the principal of a school in the Negev town of Arara, who took students on a human rights march held in Tel Aviv last month. The Knesset discussion was held following a Haaretz report that the Education Ministry reprimanded the Israeli-Arab high school.

Open gallery view MK Anastasia Michaeli (Yisrael Beiteinu) pouring a cup of water on her colleague MK Raleb Majadele (Labor) during an argument at the Knesset. Credit: Knesset TV

"You are marching against the state," Michaeli shouted at Majadele, who answered back, "Shut up." He then added, "She won't shut me up. This is not Yisrael Beiteinu. Fascism will not be allowed to take over the house." Michaeli replied, "It is disrespectful to the status of women in the Knesset. We will discuss the matter in the Ethics Committee."

At a certain point in the argument, as it appeared that Michaeli was about to leave the room to calm down, she poured a cup of water and threw the contents at Majadele. Following that, she left the room in fury.

Majadele turned to Committee Chairperson, MK Alex Miller (Yisrael Beiteinu), and said, "That says it all. I'm sure you wouldn't condone such wild and fascist behavior. I'm telling you, I'm excited. This is predictable. We'll take this matter to the Ethics Committee and we'll call her to order."

This is not the first time Michaeli has been involved in a violent confrontation with an Arab Knesset member. During a stormy parliamentary debate about the Gaza flotilla last June, Michaeli forced her way over to MK Hanin Zuabi (Balad), who was trying to address the plenum from the Knesset podium, and attempted to forcefully remove Zuabi while blocking the microphone.

Michaeli was reprimanded for physically interrupting the speech of her colleague, while Zuabi was sanctioned for participating in the 2010 Turkish-sponsored flotilla to Gaza.