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

On August 25, extremist members of the Jerusalem-based Haredi faction known as the Jerusalem Faction shouted hostile slogans at Shas party MK Michal Malchieli near the Yazdim synagogue in Jerusalem. The incident occurred as Malchieli and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef were leaving a lesson, with protesters chanting "Malkieli murderer" while the crowd dispersed. Supporters of Rabbi Yosef responded by singing praises, including the phrase "May the days of the king be prolonged." Video footage shows a crowd surrounding the vehicle carrying Malchieli and Yosef amid the shouting.

The Jerusalem Faction has repeatedly protested against Haredi Knesset members over the past year, including demonstrations outside the homes of MKs Moshe Gafni, Yaakov Asher, and Shas leader Aryeh Deri. Their protests oppose the agreement by some Haredi representatives to allow a portion of the ultra-Orthodox community to enlist in the Israeli military, demanding zero Haredi enlistment. These protests are typically organized with group transportation to Jerusalem.

Until recently, Shas MKs rarely attended Rabbi Yosef's lessons due to tensions between Yosef and Deri. Another MK, Yoav Ben-Tzur, was also attacked when leaving a lesson. In response to the latest incident, Shas issued a statement condemning the protesters as an extremist fringe group collaborating with left-wing organizations to harm the right-wing and Torah community. The party vowed that no thug would intimidate its members or divert Shas from its path of unity, Torah, and love of Israel.