MK Pindrus Sparks Outrage with Call to Shoot Protesters’ Legs, Targets MK Naama Lazimi

On Monday afternoon, MK Yitzhak Pindrus of United Torah Judaism caused a commotion during a Knesset Education Committee discussion by suggesting that protesters blocking roads should be shot in the legs, specifically singling out MK Naama Lazimi from the Democratic Camp. Lazimi, who was attending a different committee meeting at the time, entered the Education Committee room and condemned Pindrus’s remarks as incitement and called them unacceptable, emphasizing her right to oppose gender segregation policies. She stated, "You have blood on your hands," and later filed a police complaint against Pindrus for incitement, accusing the government of promoting political violence.

The confrontation escalated when MK Adi Azuz (Together) referenced Pindrus’s comment, noting that he interrupted her to compare the situation to the United States. Azuz highlighted that the chairman of Pindrus’s party, Goldknopf, had blocked a road, implying Pindrus’s statement could be interpreted as advocating shooting him as well. Pindrus replied that they should "start with Naama Lazimi."

Democratic Camp leader Yair Golan defended Lazimi, praising her activism and condemning Pindrus’s call as incitement to violence. Golan vowed that in the next government, those who incite violence will be held accountable and that the era of immunity for such actions will end. The incident occurred amid a heated debate on the bill concerning gender segregation in academia, reflecting broader tensions within Israeli politics regarding protest methods and political discourse.

Following the incident, Lazimi emphasized the severity of the incitement and the need to stop such rhetoric immediately, calling for Pindrus to be investigated and prosecuted. The episode highlights ongoing political polarization and the volatile atmosphere in the Knesset surrounding protests and legislative debates.