‘Don’t drop dead yet,’ hunger striker told

An aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu who suggested a hunger striker hold off on dying may have to eat his words.

Gabbi Kadosh, tasked by the prime minister with convincing Tamir Hajaj to end his 18-day hunger strike protesting the eligibility standards for public housing subsidies, suggested that Hajaj put his protest on hold for now, and resume it once the Knesset convenes its fall session.

“Hold off, don’t drop dead just yet… wait until after the recess,” Kaddosh said in a phone conversation, a recording of which was sent to Ynet.

Kadosh tried to explain to Hajaj that no changes could be enacted except through new legislation, which will not happen during the Knesset’s summer recess.

(Ironically, “drop dead” and “recess” share the same three-letter Hebrew root — p-g-r). And “don’t drop dead” can also be understood to mean “don’t be an idiot.”)

In the meantime, Hajaj was transferred to hospital for treatment on Wednesday after nearly fainting from the effects of his hunger strike.