MK Tally Gotlieb Slams Reporter Over Immunity Claims

Member of Knesset Tally Gotlieb fiercely attacked political commentator Amit Segal on Tuesday, accusing him of fabricating a legal fiction. The dispute arose from a report claiming that the parliamentary immunity Gotlieb received might prevent her from serving as a minister in the next government.

Gotlieb vehemently denied this, calling Segal an "obsessive" journalist who invented the story because he understood the public's support for her party, Otzma Yehudit. She argued that parliamentary immunity, as granted by the Knesset, allows for a determination that an offense was committed in the line of duty, thereby providing immunity from criminal prosecution.

She further contended that even the precedent set by the "Pinchasi-Derai ruling," which restricts individuals with convictions for moral turpitude offenses like bribery from serving in government, would not apply to her. Gotlieb asserted that this ruling pertains specifically to moral turpitude, not the circumstances of her case.

Gotlieb's statements were not a judicial ruling but her legal argument. She concluded by urging votes for Otzma Yehudit, stating that 15 mandates would enable party leader Itamar Ben-Gvir to receive the Ministry of Defense and herself the Ministry of Justice.

In June, the Knesset plenum approved Gotlieb's request for immunity from criminal prosecution with a vote of 62 in favor and 48 against. The Knesset granted immunity on two grounds: that the alleged offense occurred during or for the purpose of fulfilling her duties as a Member of Knesset, and that the legal proceedings were initiated in bad faith or with discrimination.