Top ultra-Orthodox MK brands coalition leaders ‘dogs,’ drawing fury

United Torah Judaism party leader Yaakov Litzman drew outrage on Monday after apparently branding the coalition’s leaders “dogs” during a Knesset speech.

Litzman addressed the parliament during a no-confidence motion in the government, ahead of marathon budget votes. The no-confidence vote was unusual, as Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and other senior coalition figures were out of the country to attend UN climate talks in Scotland.

“I don’t know much about cats,” said Litzman, an opposition MK and a former health minister. “But this is the first time I’ve seen dogs give something to cats.”

That was a reference to a provision in the state budget designating NIS 12 million ($3.8 million) to neuter stray cats, as demanded by Yesh Atid MK Yasmin Fridman.

“Those that bite are dogs,” added Litzman, apparently referring to senior members of the government.

The session was being chaired by Joint List MK Ahmad Tibi, who urged Litzman to carefully reconsider his words.

“I won’t reconsider. I won’t retract what I said,” replied Litzman.

His remarks were condemned by some coalition members.

Knesset Finance Committee chairman Alex Kushnir of Yisrael Beytenu tweeted: “Litzman, you don’t understand much, period.”

Housing Minister Ze’ev Elkin, in a statement, said Litzman “neglected to mention that his aides contact us endlessly with appeals for help. Next time I’ll redirect them to ask for help from a local veterinarian.”

Litzman’s remarks come ahead of the final votes on the state budget this week.

The last time an Israeli government managed to pass a budget was in March 2018. Failure to approve the budget late last year was what brought down the previous government, of which Litzman’s party was a senior partner. Israel has had four election cycles since April 2019.

The budget bill for 2021 passed its first reading in September by a 59-54 vote, with the 2022 budget getting the go-ahead with a vote of 59 to 53.

The bill will now be brought to the Knesset floor for a vote on its second and third readings. It will need to pass a final vote by November 14 if snap elections are to be averted, but the coalition is hoping to hold the vote this Thursday, some 10 days ahead of the deadline.

Departing for the UN climate summit in Glasgow, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday evening expressed confidence the budget would be approved this week, despite “desperate” attempts by the opposition to prevent its passage and effectively topple the government.

In a short address on the tarmac at Ben Gurion Airport, Bennett said: “Here in Israel we expect a crazy week, which will get wilder every day as the vote on the budget gets closer. The moment the budget passes, it gives the government stability for several years.”

Bennett said “the budget will pass because Israel needs stability… because the country needs good, calm management… because no one wants to return to the endless elections cycle.”

The diverse composition of the government led by Bennett — made up of right-wing, centrist and left-wing parties and an Islamist faction  — is complicating the effort to pass the budget, with the opposition of a single lawmaker theoretically able to bring down the wafer-thin coalition.

Rebel Yamina MK Amichai Chikli said Saturday that he would not vote with the coalition in favor of the budget, potentially jeopardizing the survival of the government.