Haredi MK caught on camera calling female lawmaker ‘an idiot’ after argument over hostage deal

MK Yitzhak Pindrus, of United Torah Judaism, is caught on record calling fellow lawmaker Merav Cohen “an idiot” in a heated exchange in the hallways of the Knesset following a stormy meeting of the Constitution, Law and Justice Committee.

The incident, caught on video and shared on social media, comes after Cohen, a Yesh Atid MK, asked during the committee meeting why the Haredi party wasn’t doing more to ensure that the hostage deal doesn’t collapse before it reaches the next phase.

“Why do you only threaten to overthrow the government to promote evading IDF conscription, and not when it comes to the Jewish commandment of rescuing hostages?” Cohen inquires, to which Pindrus responds that the Haredi party does not adopt any independent stances, and instead follows the advice of its Torah scholars.

Cohen, visibly angered, shoots back, “When you want financial allowances, you threaten to bring down the government, but now, you’re not threatening to bring it down. Don’t hide behind your Torah scholars… when you want something, you know how to get it!”

At this point, Pindrus has Cohen removed from the room before proceeding with the meeting.

Shortly after, however, he declares that he is “shutting down the discussion” while the families of the hostages are speaking, sparking renewed anger from committee members, including National Unity MK Pnina Tamano-Shata who suggests taking a five-minute break and returning.

Rejecting her suggestion, Pindrus simply declares the meeting with the hostages’ relatives over and leaves the room.

Minutes later, while talking to Tamano-Shata in an exchange caught on video and shared on social media, Pindrus declares that Cohen is an “idiot” and says that the argument — apparently over the hostages’ families not being heard out — “doesn’t interest me at all.”