MK Milwidsky leaves PMO staffer in tears in latest outburst against female official

By Ariela Karmel

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8 June 2026, 2:55 pm

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Ariela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.

Finance Committee chair and Likud MK Hanoch Milwidsky yells at and berates a female staff member from the Prime Minister’s Office during a committee meeting, causing her to burst into tears and forcing her to leave the room, in his latest outburst against a female staffer.

At the filmed session, the committee chair erupts as the staffer attempts to present data regarding changes to the 2026 state budget to lawmakers. After interrupting her throughout the exchange, Milwidsky launches into an angry tirade.

“You’re delaying things. You’re wasting time. What are you doing? Do you think we won’t add up the numbers and realize you haven’t given us everything?” says the visibly agitated Milwidsky.

״את מבזבזת זמן, את מעכבת זמן״ – עוד יום שבו פקיד ממשלתי מוצא את עצמו בוש ונכלם בגלל התפרצות של יו״ר וועדה בכנסת.

הפעם: תקציבאית במשרד רה״מ שפרצה בבכי אחרי המתקפה הזאת של חנוך מילביצקי pic.twitter.com/w5omNDbdEC

— מיכאל שמש Michael Shemesh (@shemeshmicha) June 8, 2026

The staffer attempts to respond before breaking down in tears and leaving the room. A colleague then takes over the presentation in her stead.

Later in the session, Milwidsky defends his conduct, insisting it “wasn’t personal” but “entirely professional,” and instead criticizes the media for publishing footage of the incident.

Milwidsky was appointed chair of the powerful Finance Committee last summer despite an ongoing police investigation into allegations of rape and witness tampering, and has since drawn criticism for multiple outbursts toward female government and Knesset staff.

In December, Knesset legal adviser Sagit Afik lambasted Milwidsky for his treatment of committee legal adviser Shlomit Erlich during a committee meeting, during which he repeatedly interrupted Erlich, mocked her legal advice and accused her similarly of “disrupting and delaying” him for hours, while yelling with visible anger and slamming his hands on the desk, ultimately causing Erlich to flee the room as well.