Minister collapses at Knesset after complaining of chest pains

Ayoub Kara receives treatment from an MK with medical training, is then rushed to the hospital; Knesset closes for the day after incident

By ToI Staff and Raoul Wootliff 12 December 2018, 8:50 pm
Communication Minister Ayoub Kara receives medical treatment outside the Knesset plenum after collapsing on December 12, 2018. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who was in the plenum at the time, can be seen sitting down on the right of the photo. (Courtesy)

A government minister from the ruling Likud party collapsed at the Knesset on Wednesday after complaining of chest pains.

A Knesset spokesman said Communications Minister Ayoub Kara was fully conscious and responding to medics.

He was initially treated in the Knesset by Joint (Arab) List MK Ahmad Tibi, a trained physician who practiced as a gynecologist before entering politics.

“I was summoned and found Minister Kara on the floor. He looked like he was suffering, pointed to the left side of his chest and said he’s in pain,” Tibi told the Kan public broadcaster.

Kara was later brought to Hadassah Hospital Ein Kerem for further treatment.

Communication Minister Ayoub Kara attends the ‘Likudiada,’ a gathering of Likud party members and supporters in the southern city of Eilat, on January 12, 2018. (Noam Revkin Fenton/Flash90)

Opposition and coalition lawmakers agreed to postpone all legislative work until Thursday following the incident.

Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein said in a statement that “on behalf of all MKs I want to wish Ayoub Kara a speedy recovery to full health.”

Edelstein said the Knesset plenary will remain closed for the rest of Wednesday and will resume Thursday morning.

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