Jewish Agency board members disrupt overhaul architect Rothman’s speech

During the appearance earlier today of Religious Zionism MK Simcha Rothman at the Jewish Agency board of governors event in Tel Aviv, some members of the board were filmed disrupting his address by whistling and making other noises, according to footage published online.

Rothman is the architect of the government’s legislative push to radically overhaul the justice system, and dozens protested outside the Hilton Hotel earlier against his appearance.

When Rothman spoke , some members of the board stood up, blew whistles and used noisemakers resembling those traditionally used on Purim whenever the villain Haman is mentioned during the recitation of the Book of Esther.

דיון של ח"כ עודד פורר וח"כ שמחה רוטמן בנושא הרפרומה/מהפך המשפטי. לא נותנים לרוטמן לדבר.
אני מעורבת בעולם "ארגוני העולם היהודי" כבר כמעת 20 שנה. לא ראיתי מופע כזה בעבר. https://t.co/GEy0vh8xH2 pic.twitter.com/CGmGLNsFQ1

— Rachel Gur (@RachelGur) April 23, 2023

Protesters disrupt MK Simcha Rothman’s panel appearance at @JewishAgency board of governors meeting in Tel Aviv — organizers have paused the panel to figure out what do pic.twitter.com/9L6WUwRQfw

— Arno Rosenfeld (@ArnoRosenfeld) April 23, 2023

The disruption reportedly ended when the demonstrators agreed to continue their protest silently.

Also at the event, policemen are said to have removed Haaretz reporter Judy Maltz from the premises and to block her from re-entering, while threatening to arrest her.