MK Yinon Magal
MK Yinon MagalHadas Parush/Flash90

Labor MK Stav Shafir expressed her satisfaction Monday after hearing news that MK Yinon Magal (Jewish Home) is stepping down as Knesset Member, following accusations of improper past behavior with two or three women.

"It is good that Magal decided to retire," she stated. "A clear, sharp message needs to that there is no place in the Knesset of Israel for a public representative who tramples underfoot the dignity of another."

Meanwhile, Israel Hayom reported that police investigators visited the Walla news desk and queried employees there, in search of incriminating information and testimony about Magal. The step is highly unusual, since no criminal complaint has been filed against Magal and no formal investigation has been launched – can be seen as an indication of the power wielded in Israel by the so-called "women's lobby."

Shafir went further, noting that the Knesset "must not be tolerant against harassers, just as it cannot be tolerant towards people who humiliate disabled people, as Oren Hazan has done. I hope he is the next one in line to vacate his seat for a worthier MK."

Hazan is blamed for a recent incident in which he chided a Meretz MK, Isawi Frej, who voted twice during one of the plenum voting sessions. It later turned out that Frej was voting instead of his neighbor in the Knesset seating arrangement, MK Karin Elharar of Yesh Atid, because she asked him to do so, since she is disabled.

MK Aliza Lavi (Yesh Atid) expressed her pleasure with Magal's decision. "Any person who sexually harassed another person must pay the price. This kind of violent and crude behavior needs to be weeded out of the entire Israeli community. It is time to "

Lavi's boss in Yesh Atid, MK Yair Lapid, said the decision was a proper one. "It is time to close down the circus," he said. "We don't need MKs who sexually harass, or insult the disabled. We need to restore the public's respect for the Knesset."

Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon (Likud) said: "We have to wait, finish the investigation, but as things look there is still a culture in Israel of seeing women as objects and I negate this."

Minister Gila Gamliel (Likud) was more positive, however. "The law enforcement arms will now be able to look into the matter as required. I approve of the decision; a heavy cloud have been removed from the Knesset," she declared.