Religious Zionist MK Itamar Ben-Gvir interrupted Yesh Atid MK Yasmin Sax Fridman on Wednesday in the Knesset and called her a "cat feeder."
The statement took place as the Public Security Committee held a discussion on crime in the Arab sector.
Sax Fridman quickly fired back in response. "Do you really think this is an insult to me? If you knew me, you'd know who I am."
His nickname for her was also criticized as disrespectful by committee chair Meirav Ben-Ari.
Sax Fridman has expressed support of animal rights in the past in the past. Ben-Gvir, in his comment, was seemingly referring to Sax Fridman's maiden speech in the Knesset, called herself a "third-generation cat feeder."
רוצים לספר לאיתמר שמאכילות חתולים יכולות ויכולים לעשות עוד דברים??? ספרו לנו מה אתם/ן עושים יחד עם האכלת חתולים...❤️❤️#מאכילות_חתולים_זו_לא_קללה pic.twitter.com/owdoHvXQ65
— יסמין סאקס פרידמן (@Yasminsfridman) October 20, 2021
The MK later took to Twitter with a video of the interaction at the Knesset.
"Want to tell Itamar that cat feeders can do more? Tell us what you do while feeding cats," she tweeted, followed by the hashtag translating to "'cat feeder' is not a curse."
This is not the first time the Religious Zionist MK has stirred up controversy and angered his fellow MKs.
On Tuesday, Ben-Gvir got into a physical altercation with Joint List MK Ayman Odeh. Ben-Gvir had gone to Kaplan Medical Center in Rehovot to check in on a Hamas terrorist undergoing the 91st day of his hunger strike.
Odeh soon arrived, however, and shouted "Why are you the one telling me not to go in there?!"
בית חולים קפלן . מקדאק אלקוואסמי שובת רעב כבר 90 יום במחאה על מעצרו המנהלי. בן גביר בא לבקר. עודה בולם. pic.twitter.com/erQlZEFDyy
— Jack khoury.جاك خوري (@KhJacki) October 19, 2021
The two exchanged insults and Odeh soon shoved Ben-Gvir, who shoved back. They were separated by civilians before it could escalate further, and the Religious Zionist MK filed a complaint shortly after the incident.
Jerusalem Post Staff contributed to this report.