MK Gottlieb Attacks Analyst Amit Segal Over Ministerial Candidacy Claims

Member of Knesset (MK) Tali Gottlieb launched a sharp attack on political commentator Amit Segal on Tuesday, accusing him of fabricating a legal narrative to undermine her potential appointment as a minister in the next government. The dispute arose after a report, attributed to Segal, suggested that Gottlieb's prior decision to retain her parliamentary immunity might disqualify her from serving as a minister.

Gottlieb vehemently denied this claim, labeling it a "legal fabrication." She stated that Segal's report emerged shortly after the "Otzma Yehudit" party declared its intention to demand the Justice Ministry portfolio for her should they join the upcoming coalition. Gottlieb asserted that Segal, whom she described as a "knowledgeable and obsessive" journalist, recognized that public support for Otzma Yehudit would strengthen her candidacy. Consequently, she alleged, he invented the legal pretext to thwart her aspirations.

Elaborating on her legal position, Gottlieb argued that retaining her immunity does not preclude her from becoming a minister. She cited the immunity law, stating that the Knesset's determination that she committed an offense in the course of her duties grants her immunity from criminal responsibility. Furthermore, she contended that established legal precedents, such as the "Pinchasi-Der'i ruling," do not apply to her situation, as those rulings pertain to offenses involving moral turpitude like bribery, which she implied do not apply to her case.

Concluding her remarks, Gottlieb urged citizens to vote for Otzma Yehudit, linking the party's electoral strength to the distribution of ministerial portfolios. "Vote Otzma Yehudit! 15 mandates for Otzma will allow Ben-Gvir to receive the Defense Ministry and me the Justice Ministry, God willing," she wrote, emphasizing her desire for the Justice Ministry post.