Member of Knesset Oren Hazan (Likud) has defended himself against attacks in response to his criticism of Wednesday's marriage of Jewish actor Tzachi Levy to Israeli Arab media personality Lucy Aharish.
Writing on Twitter, Hazan said, "Your reactions, which are trying to make assimilation correct and heroic, explain what Prime Minister Netanyahu and Chairman Gabbai of the Zionist Union meant when they said, "The left has forgotten what it is to be a Jew. Shame on you. You are not attacking me. You are attacking the Jewish people and harming it! Assimilation is forbidden. We are a small nation and if we do not protect ourselves - we will disappear!"