The Knesset has banned Peace Now chairman Yariv Oppenheimer after he ordered three activists to pose as students while interviewing Knesset Members. The ban follows a demand by National Union Knesset Member Dr. Michael Ben-Ari, who complained to the Speaker of the legislature about the false identities.
Oppenheimer stood behind sending the three activists, posing as students, to interview MK Ben-Ari. The Peace Now chairman said the ban is "undemocratic."
Yariv Oppenheimer (Photo: Flash 90)"Oppenheimer not only does not deny sending them but also ran to the media to brag that he is behind the incident,” said Ben-Ari, which he described as very serious. He added, “The three 'students' managed to speak with several Knesset Members, using the same disguise, which is a criminal offense." The three activists said they wanted to film MK Ben-Ari as part of a supposed student project on democracy.
The “students” aroused the suspicion of the legislator, who noticed that one of them was wearing a “kippa” (skullcap) in an awkward way. During the interview, they showed other signs of being fakes, and one of the activists admitted that he was using a false name.
All three of them eventually confessed that their mission was under Oppenheimer’s orders and was to obtain material to be used against the Knesset Member.