Ultra-Orthodox Protesters Shout 'Malkieli Murderer' at Shas MK in Jerusalem

On Saturday, members of the extremist Jerusalem Faction directed hostile chants at Shas MK Michal Malkieli near the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem. The incident occurred as the crowd was dispersing following a lesson by Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef. Protesters shouted "Malkieli murderer" at the MK while he and Rabbi Yosef were leaving the synagogue. Meanwhile, Rabbi Yosef's students accompanied their rabbi and Malkieli with singing, chanting "Days upon days add to the king." Video footage shows a crowd gathering around the car carrying Malkieli and Rabbi Yosef amid the shouting.

Over the past year, the Jerusalem Faction has repeatedly protested against ultra-Orthodox Knesset members, including demonstrations outside the homes of MKs Moshe Gafni and Yaakov Asher from United Torah Judaism, and multiple protests near Shas leader Aryeh Deri's residence. These protests oppose the ultra-Orthodox parties' acceptance of some Haredi enlistment into the Israeli military, demanding a zero-enlistment policy.

Shas stated that the protesters represent a marginal, anarchistic group harming the Haredi community and Torah world, collaborating with left-wing organizations to undermine the right-wing and traditionalist bloc. The party affirmed that no thug will intimidate its MKs or divert Shas from its path of unity, Torah, and love of Israel.

Previously, Shas MKs had largely avoided attending Rabbi Yosef's lessons due to tensions between him and Aryeh Deri. Another MK, Yoav Ben-Tzur, was also attacked when leaving a lesson. The Jerusalem Faction protesters typically arrive in organized buses for demonstrations in Jerusalem.