The latest scandal to reverberate across Israel this week surrounds a photo of Labor Party leader and Minister of Transportation Merav Michaeli with her partner, the popular comedian Lior Schlein, holding their new baby. Apparently, the photo was taken when the child was just a few hours old. The commotion surrounding it refuses to die down ever since it first began making the rounds on Facebook on Aug. 21.

The photo was taken at a hospital in the United States where Michaeli and Schlein went to take part in the birth of their son, who was born through a surrogate. Michaeli first posted the photo on her Facebook page, along with a very moving account about her long journey to parenthood. That post exploded across the media with shockwaves that continue to reverberate.

In fact, the controversy began a day earlier on Aug. 20 when the media first revealed that Michaeli, a member of the Coronavirus Cabinet, flew to the United States at the height of the virus’ fourth wave. She was called out at the time for traveling on a private trip against the recommendation of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, who had just asked the public to avoid unnecessary travel. Michaeli herself would not comment on the news for the next 24 hours, even while social media was lashing out at her for the troubling example she was setting as a leader.

Then, as if out of nowhere, Michaeli broke the news that she was now a mother. This came as a surprise to everyone. Many of her outspoken critics erased their earlier posts and tweets, apologized and congratulated her on the happy occasion. But the respite was short-lived. Now, Michaeli has come under criticism from an entirely different direction. This time, she is being accused of hypocrisy. This too was inevitable. Michaeli has spent the last two decades spearheading an agenda that supported those who choose “nonparenthood.” In fact, she regularly told interviewers she had no interest in having children and she had a full and meaningful life without the added title of “Mom.”