Knesset Grants Immunity to MK Tally Gotliv After Disclosure of Shin Bet Officer's Name

The Knesset plenum voted on Wednesday to grant immunity to MK Tally Gotliv, protecting her from prosecution after she revealed the name of a Shin Bet officer. The decision was made under the Knesset Members' Immunity, Rights and Duties Law.

Lawmakers approved, by 61 to 48, the claim that her action was carried out in the course of fulfilling her parliamentary duties. They also voted 62 to 48 in favor of a second claim, that the indictment was filed in bad faith or with discrimination.

The Knesset Committee had already decided this week that Gotliv was entitled to immunity, despite finding that she had deliberately exposed the identity of a Shin Bet operative. Last month, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced plans to indict Gotliv for disclosing or publishing classified information under the Shin Bet Law.

Gotliv then asked the Knesset to rule that she should receive immunity, arguing that the indictment had been brought against her in bad faith. In the committee debate, Baharav-Miara said the investigation began after a Shin Bet request because of the danger created by revealing the details of a fighter whose identity was forbidden from publication during wartime. She said the publication was at the core of the alleged offense and directly harmed the values protected by the law, adding that accepting the immunity request would seriously damage equality before the law and the public interest. The article also notes that the High Court of Justice issued an order nisi against the appointment of Yehuda Eliyahu as head of the Israel Land Authority.