Grzegorz Brown leaves after the incident. Photo: David Zukhovichi/Reuters
A Jewish woman who was in the building to celebrate Hanukkah. was hit in the face with foam when she tried to stop Mr. Brown, leaving her face and clothes covered in white powder.
“Satanic cult”
When asked by a journalist if he was ashamed of his actions, Mr. Brown replied: “People involved in a satanic cult should be ashamed.”
The incident sparked a furious response from Polish politicians, with Mr Tusk calling it a “disgrace.”
“It’s just disgusting,” said Szymon Golownia, the speaker of Poland’s lower house of parliament. “Such an act of aggression and stupidity will never be repeated.”
Mr Holownia said Mr Brown had been expelled from the parliamentary session and that a criminal investigation would be launched based on the disruption of the religious ceremony.
After the incident, the rabbi lights the menorah candles again. Photo: Tsarek Sokolovsky/AP
Mr Brown, however, remains protected by his parliamentary immunity, although parliament can revoke it at the request of prosecutors.
The incident delayed a parliamentary vote of confidence that had been expected , was due to approve Mr Tusk's new government.
“Our enemies will not be able to destroy us”
Michael Schudrich, Poland's chief rabbi, told Reuters that Mr Brown's actions were not representative of the country and that he is “embarrassed” by them.
“Someone blew out the Hanukkah candles, and a few minutes later we relit them,” he said. “For thousands of years, our enemies have tried to destroy us, from the time of the Maccabees to Hamas. But our enemies must learn, they cannot destroy us.”
Polish Catholic Church Cardinal Grzegorz Rys said in a statement posted on Twitter that he was ashamed of Mr Brown's actions. “(I) apologize to the entire Jewish community in Poland,” he wrote.
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