From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Gantz slams expected appointment of Likud MK suspected of rape to head Finance Committee: ‘Have we lost our minds?’
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleSam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky’s expected appointment as Knesset Finance Committee chairman sends a terrible message to victims of sexual violence, Blue and White-National Unity chairman Benny Gantz declares.
The Knesset House Committee is scheduled to meet today to vote on Milwidsky’s candidacy before referring the issue to the Finance Committee itself for final approval.
While the Likud lawmaker has been endorsed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his candidacy has proven controversial, as he is currently under investigation on suspicion of rape and witness tampering.
“Have we lost our minds? What message is the coalition sending today to victims of sexual offenses?” asks Gantz in a post on X arguing that “there isn’t a single righteous person in Sodom within Likud or the coalition as a whole… who will say ‘enough'” and “think about their little daughter, instead of petty politics.”
While Gantz says Milwidsky enjoys the “presumption of innocence,” he asks, “What is so urgent about appointing a Finance Committee chairman who is suspected of rape?”
Opposition lawmakers are expected to show up to today’s House Committee vote to “voice clear opposition to this move,” he adds.
Milwidsky has denied wrongdoing and described the investigation against him as a witch hunt.
The Times of Israel Community.