The Knesset plenum voted Wednesday morning on whether to grant immunity to MK Tally Gotliv of Likud, protecting her from a criminal indictment over publishing the name of an alleged Shin Bet officer, the partner of protest activist Shikma Bressler. The immunity push was first approved by the Knesset House Committee on Monday, with 11 members in favor and three against.
During the plenum debate, coalition whip Ofir Katz defended the committee’s decision and accused the opposition of flattering Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara. Shortly before the vote, fellow Likud MK Yuli Edelstein said he would support lifting Gotliv’s immunity, arguing that the issue was being turned into a personal test of loyalty and warning that approving immunity could encourage extremists to expose the identities of security officials or Mossad agents.
Gotliv, speaking at the end of the committee session, again raised conspiracy theories about the October 7 massacre and rejected the allegations against her. She said opponents did not understand parliamentary immunity, claimed they had not read the indictment, and argued that the case was being framed as a national security matter unfairly. "The only thing I care about is the people of Israel and the Land of Israel," she said.
If immunity is granted, Gotliv would avoid trial during the current Knesset term, though she would need to seek immunity again in the next הכנסת. The indictment accuses her of unauthorized disclosure of classified information, an offense that can carry up to three years in prison. Prosecutors say that in January 2024 she posted a screenshot from the site "Edna Karnaval" claiming that Mossad chief Dadi Barnea had received U.S. intelligence about intercepted communications between Bressler’s husband and Yahya Sinwar four days before October 7, 2023.
Separately, the Lod District Court ruled Monday that Gotliv does not have immunity against a defamation suit filed by Bressler over revealing her partner’s name, though the judge said she does retain immunity for the rest of the claims. The civil case is proceeding independently of the criminal case.
