I'm with stupid I'm with stupid

Likud MKs fume over insulted intelligence

Zionist Union’s Mickey Rosenthal comes under fire for mocking the IQs of the bottom third of the ruling party’s slate

By Jacob Magid

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7 May 2017, 12:44 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

MK Oren Hazan reacts at a plenum session in the assembly hall of Knesset on January 25, 2017. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

Flexing his intellectual muscles, Oren Hazan (Likud) challenged fellow parliamentarian Mickey Rosenthal (Labor) to a chess match Sunday morning after the latter disparaged the intelligence of Likud’s Knesset representatives.

“I challenge Rosethal to a game of chess, an IQ test — any contest he’d like,” Hazan told Channel 10.

Rosenthal made the comments at a recurring Saturday cultural event known to produce jaw-dropping comments from parliamentarians.

“The last 10 people in [Likud’s Knesset faction] share an IQ. If you combine them all…” he told the audience in Modiin, pausing as laughter ensued.

Zionist Union MK Mickey Rosenthal (L) gives an interview to Amalya Duek at a Modiin cultural event on May 6, 2017. (Screen capture/YouTube)

“I’m done. Everyone understood [what I meant],” Rosenthal said to the amused crowd.

The interviewer then pressed the Zionist Union MK on whether he was implying that the bottom third of Likud’s 30 lawmakers were stupid.

“No! God forbid! I was talking about IQ,” Rosenthal said, cracking a smile. “I think that a large number of them were unworthy of reaching the Knesset.”

While Hazan was Rosenthal’s lone potential chess challenger, lawmakers from across the spectrum spoke out against the IQ comments.

David Bitan (Likud) told Channel 2 that Rosenthal’s words “smack of racism and an anti-Mizrahi attitude because it’s well known that Likud’s lower roster is mostly Mizrahi” Jews.

Former environmental protection minister Avi Gabbay, who’s running for the leadership of Rosenthal’s Labor Party, slammed the observation in a tweet later that night.

Likud parliament members Oren Hazan and David Bitan attend a committee meeting in Knesset on March 15, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90) — Likud parliament members Oren Hazan (left) and David Bitan attend a committee meeting in Knesset on March 15, 2017. (Miriam Alster/Flash90)

“We will not beat Likud with insults and shallow talk. I hope Rosenthal will retract these unnecessary statements,” he said.

Miki Zohar (Likud) thanked Rosenthal for his comments in a sarcastic Facebook post.

“Thanks for making sure to expose your true faces. This is exactly the reason why they (Zionist Union MKs) will remain in the opposition for years to come.”

In addition to Hazan and Zohar, the bottom third of Likud’s slate consists of former Shin Bet director Avi Dichter, Ayoub Kara, Yehudah Glick, Yaron Mazuz, Avraham Neguise, Nurit Koren, Sharren Haskel, and Amir Ohana.