Member of Knesset Simcha Rothman, and Chairman of the committee spearheading the judicial reform, responded in a tweet about the incident in which he snatched a megaphone from the hands of a protester in New York Friday night. According to Rothman, "A small group of violent protesters attacked me and my wife when we were walking late at night in New York, they blocked our way, stepped on my wife Hanna’s leg, and cursed at us, including death threats."
Rothman is staying in New York these days for the annual Celebrate Israel Parade set to happen Sunday, June 4th. On Friday night in New York, the sabbath-observing Rothman was walking with his wife in New York accompanied by security guards, when a group of anti-judicial reform protesters accompanied him in a loud protest as he made his way on foot all the way to his hotel.
Simcha Rothman, Chairman of the Knesset's Law & Constitution Committee, jumps a protester & grabs his megaphone while touristing in New York City 🤦🏽♀️. pic.twitter.com/KNkdurj1OH
— Noga Tarnopolsky נגה טרנופולסקי نوغا ترنوبولسكي💙 (@NTarnopolsky) June 3, 2023
According to Rothman’s description of the case: "The security guards called the police, we described to them where we were, and we continued to walk, while we ignored the protesters. At some point the protesters realized that we were not excited about them, then they put a megaphone to our ears and began to shout.”
“Both I and the security guards repeatedly told them to stop and stay away and they continued. After all the warnings, I took the megaphone from the demonstrator that she pushed into my ear, without touching her of course. After about half a block we reached a place where we could enter and wait for the police. The police escorted me to the hotel, and the incident was then over."
#SimchaAndTheCity
— Ron Kiener (@bingoprof) June 3, 2023
Police complaint filed against MK Rothman as he grabs megaphone from NYC protester https://t.co/76M4IrFCqA via @timesofisrael
According to Rothman, "The violent attackers came from Israel. Just as in Israel, they represent a small and violent group, the same is true here. Demonstrations are allowed, physically attacking and harassing members of the Knesset is prohibited." The member of the Knesset criticized the members of the opposition, saying that "the fact that Yair Lapid and Gantz do not condemn the violent attacks on members of the Knesset, and even encourage them, indicates more than anything else that they have become the opposition to the entire state."
Coalition members back Rothman after he seizes protester’s megaphone in NYChttps://t.co/jZBIEFnoNV
— Jaun News Usa (@jaunnewsusa) June 3, 2023
The leaders of the “Resistance to the Dictatorship” movement in response to Rothman said: "We remind Rothman that although he wants to return Israel to the Middle Ages, we live in 2023, a year in which everything is filmed. There is not a single word of truth in his detached text, the blaming of the victim and wild incitement that unfortunately leads to violence against demonstrators.”
