Far-right anti-LGBT MK says new coalition will end the ‘darkness’ of outgoing government

Noam MK Avi Maoz, the sole Knesset member of the extremist anti-LGBT party, sparks outrage during a speech to the Knesset where he compares the outgoing government to the Hellenists of the Hanukkah story.

In his speech, Maoz says the story of Hanukkah is “fitting for today,” sings portions of the popular holiday song “We Came to Expel the Darkness,” and notes that the Maccabees had to drive out the forces of Hellenistic Jews, who wanted to combine Judaism with Greek culture.

“The spirit that the Greeks and the Hellenists tried to instill in the Jewish people is the real darkness,” says Maoz. “Anyone who tries to harm real Judaism is the darkness. Anyone who tries to create a new so-called liberal religion is the darkness. Anyone who — with intentional concealment and obfuscation — tries to brainwash the children of Israel with their agendas, without the knowledge of the parents — is the darkness.”

Yesh Atid MKs Michal Shir and Labor MK Naama Lazimi shout against Maoz’s comments from the Knesset plenum.

Under his coalition deal with Likud, Maoz will be appointed deputy minister and head a to-be-created authority for Jewish identity, as well as control extracurricular content in schools, a deal that has been viewed with alarm by many.