The Knesset is set to vote today, Wednesday, on whether to grant MK Tally Gotliv criminal immunity against an indictment tied to her publication of the name of a Shin Bet officer, the husband of protest leader Shikma Bressler. After approval in committee, 11 lawmakers backed immunity and 3 opposed it. The decision comes amid a parallel civil case in which the Lod District Court dismissed much of Bressler’s libel suit against Gotliv on immunity grounds.
Gotliv rejected the accusations and used social media to defend herself. In a post on X, she wrote, "Tantumay to all who wish me ill, from inside and outside," and said the opposition was trying to gather Likud votes against her "substantive immunity." She added that most coalition members understood "the size of the moment" and would vote out of "responsibility" and recognition of the importance of immunity. She also claimed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu would come to the plenum to vote to keep her immunity in place.
The day before, the Lod District Court, according to a summary published by the court administration, said Bressler is a public figure and that Gotliv, as an MK, has broad latitude to criticize her public activity, express opinions, and address the events of October 7 and what led to them. Judge Haimovich said such publications are at the core of parliamentary activity and therefore enjoy wide immunity, even when phrased sharply. As a result, major parts of the lawsuit were dismissed outright.
However, the court said several factual claims still need further examination, including publications about Bressler’s husband, the Shin Bet officer, and the exposure of his identity. It noted that Supreme Court precedent has held that a deliberate disclosure of a security officer’s identity does not necessarily receive parliamentary immunity. The court also said the civil case will continue on the remaining disputed issues, including allegations about Bressler’s meeting with the Mossad chief and claims involving intercepted calls. The court stressed that its ruling concerns civil defamation law and not the criminal immunity issue now before the Knesset.
