Left-wing demonstrators on Sunday evening spat on Energy Minister Israel Katz (Likud) as he left a conference in Tel Aviv. In addition, the protesters shouted at him: "Pig", "fatso" and "a friend of Putin's". Katz was rescued from the scene by Yasam (riot police unit dedicated to continuous security, riot and crowd control, and other special operations -ed.) forces. Even during his speech, the left-wing protesters screamed and tried to prevent Minister Katz from speaking. Katz later said, "I participated tonight in the lighting ceremony on the 100th anniversary of the first turning on of electricity in Tel Aviv. In front of me stood the protesters of the darkness who screamed and cursed and, as it turns out, they also spit. I will not be deterred by violence masquerading as democracy. I will continue to build the country in accordance with my way and my vision." Transportation Minister Miri Regev condemned the incident and said, "I strongly condemn the attack this evening against Israel Katz. The State Attorney’s Office will ignore, the media will normalize and the left will embrace the lawbreakers, but we will win. And I say to all my friends on the right, leadership is being tested in these moments. We came to govern and not to apologize." MK David Bitan (Likud) responded, "I strongly condemn the violent attack against Minister Israel Katz this evening at the ceremony in Tel Aviv. The violence of the demonstrators crosses borders and it must be put to an end." MK Kathrin Shitrit said, "I support Minister Israel Katz. This is intolerable and all the red lines have already been crossed, even a protest has a limit! There are thugs, violent and shameless people who have completely lost it! It's time for the enforcement system and the security forces to put an end to these phenomena before a public representative is murdered here."