Lapid under fire for saying he ‘deserves raise’ for having to look at far-right’s Orit Strock

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid has sparked controversy after saying he “deserve[s] a raise” for having to look at far-right Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock of the Religious Zionism party.

During an interview to the podcast The Dor Kahn Experience, Lapid, speaking about his distaste for religious dogma in politics, said: “I look at Orit Strock — and just for that I deserve a raise — and God’s with her. She says, ‘You might have all sorts of opinions, but God’s with me.'”

Right-wing MKs have assailed Lapid’s comments as misogynistic.

Religious Zionism party leader Bezalel Smotrich castigated the opposition leader for his “misogynistic attack against Minister Strock — one of the best politicians Israel has known. Apologize.”

Otzma Yehudit party leader Itamar Ben Gvir tweeted: “It’s amazing how for years the ‘enlightened camp’ supported a vacuous, ignorant, and mainly foolish person like Yair Lapid, who objectifies women and harms them.”

Education Minister Yoav Kisch of Likud said, “There’s more wisdom and humanity at the tip of Orit Strock’s headscarf than in Mr. Yair Lapid. Shame on you, Lapid, and apologize.”

Lapid responded: “Everyone understands that I was talking about her conduct, not her appearance. It’s a shame I didn’t see such outrage when Orit Strock said that the hostages should be abandoned and left to die. I’m waiting for Strock’s apology [about that].”