Israeli Lawmaker Granted Immunity After Revealing Shin Bet Agent's Identity
Member of Knesset (MK) Tali Gottlieb of the Likud party has been granted parliamentary immunity, shielding her from prosecution for allegedly revealing the identity of a Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) agent and making defamatory claims against him. The agent is the partner of activist Shkema Bressler, who is involved in protests against the current government. Gottlieb's actions, which included publishing a screenshot suggesting a connection between Bressler's partner and Hamas's October 7th attack, are considered a violation of the law designed to protect the identities and lives of Shin Bet agents.
Defense Minister Israel Katz initially delayed signing a certificate of protection for the agent's identity for nine months. During this period, Katz reportedly met with the Shin Bet chief and asked him to withdraw the request for the certificate. The Attorney General stated that Katz misused his authority. After finally signing the certificate in early May, Katz pledged to assist Gottlieb in avoiding trial, echoing her conspiracy theories.
The Knesset's immunity committee and plenum subsequently approved Gottlieb's immunity with a majority vote from the coalition and ultra-Orthodox parties, despite opposition from some Likud members. The agent's lawyer argued that the Knesset's decision signals to security service personnel that their lives are vulnerable for political gain. The agent and Bressler have filed lawsuits against Gottlieb, and the criminal indictment against her was for publishing classified information.
Despite the immunity, which is valid only for the current Knesset term, the indictment can be refiled in the next term. Gottlieb has reportedly expressed concern about facing investigation if not re-elected, and recently moved to the Otzma Yehudit party list, reportedly due to fears of facing trial without immunity. The article criticizes Katz's actions, suggesting he acted contrary to expectations by delaying the agent's protection and then supporting Gottlieb.
