The Central District Court in Lod ruled on Tuesday that part of Shikma Bressler’s defamation lawsuit against MK Tally Gotliv and other defendants will not be thrown out entirely. Judge Rami Haimovich said Gotliv is protected by parliamentary immunity for opinion, criticism, and political attacks, but not necessarily for factual claims that have not yet been examined.
Bressler sued after a series of Gotliv posts on social media, interviews, and public speeches. The claims included attacks on Bressler over the judicial overhaul protests, as well as statements about her husband, a Shin Bet officer, and allegations about links between him and Hamas figures on the eve of the October 7 attack.
The judge said harsh criticism of Bressler, as a prominent public figure, lies at the core of an MK’s role and therefore enjoys broad immunity. He added that lawmakers may express even severe views about public figures as part of their public and parliamentary function.
But the court found it too early to decide that the factual allegations about Bressler’s husband, his role in the security service, and an alleged meeting between Bressler and the head of the Mossad are protected. Haimovich noted that Gotliv had even acknowledged deliberately revealing the identity of a Shin Bet officer while relying on parliamentary immunity, stressing that an MK cannot knowingly break the law and automatically invoke that protection. The lawsuit will continue over those factual claims, and the parties must file requests on how to proceed within 30 days.
