Political Storm in the Knesset After Appointment of Melechetski as Head of Finance Committee.. Accusations Against Sara Netanyahu of Interference

The appointment of Likud party member Hanokh Melechetski as head of the Knesset Finance Committee has sparked widespread anger in Israeli political and media circles, amid accusations against Sara Netanyahu, the wife of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, of supporting him despite reports accusing him of involvement in rape and bribery cases.

According to Hebrew media reports, the committee approved the nominations on Tuesday with a vote of 9 members in favor of the appointment versus 6 opponents, replacing Melechetski the deputy Moshe Gafni of the United Torah Judaism party, whose bloc recently withdrew from the government.

The voting session witnessed sharp confrontations between opposition members and Likud party members, where Member Mirav Ben-Ari (Yesh Atid faction) attacked her colleague Tali Gottlieb (Likud) saying: "You are defending rapists!" Activists from the left were expelled from the hall. MPs Nava Boker (opposition) and Nissim Vaturi (Likud) exchanged fierce accusations, with the latter calling them "stupid," to which Boker responded: "You are criminals!".

The Hebrew website Walla revealed sharp criticism from a prominent minister in Likud (who refused to disclose his name due to "political sensitivities"), directing explicit accusations at Melechetski and criticizing coalition leader Ofer Katz for pushing the appointment. The minister said in a statement: "This is a man who has been accused of serious charges of raping two women, bribing witnesses, then raping his victim in a hotel in Petah Tikva and harassing her until she fled to Ukraine.. How can he be appointed to oversee Israel's budgets?".

He added that there is internal opposition within the party, but without a clear stance, asking: "Why are the party leader and Prime Minister Netanyahu silent?".

Reports mentioned that the Prime Minister's office received petitions from survivors of violence and rape, expressing their rejection of appointing a person accused of these crimes to a high position. The leaders of the Yesh Atid, Blue and White, and Democratic blocs _Mirav Ben-Ari, Benina Tamanu-Shata, and Efrat Raytan_ demanded the immediate cancellation of the appointment.

On the other hand, Likud member Moshe Sa'ada called for postponing the appointment "until the investigations are completed," saying: "A quick investigation is needed to confirm or refute the suspicions". Former Minister Benny Gantz commented that Melechetski "may be innocent, but why insist on appointing him now?".

Hebrew Channel 12 reported a testimony from one of the victims (who refused to disclose her identity for fear of retaliation), increasing pressure on Melechetski. Amid escalating protests, it seems that the decision may reopen files of corruption and sex scandals that have long plagued the Netanyahu government.