Knesset Panel Grants Tally Gotliv Immunity in Secret Shin Bet Disclosure Case

The Knesset House Committee decided on Monday that MK Tally Gotliv is entitled to immunity from prosecution, even though she deliberately revealed the identity of a Shin Bet operative. The final decision will still require a vote in the full plenum.

The committee approved the request by 11 votes to 3 after three heated days of debate. Supporters argued that the act was carried out as part of her parliamentary duties and that the indictment was filed in bad faith or with discrimination. The lawmakers backing the request were Ofir Katz, Nissim Vaturi, Amit Halevi, Moshe Saada, Avichay Buaron, Simcha Rothman, Uriel Buso, Yossi Taieb, Yitzhak Goldknopf, Michel Buskila and Limor Son Har-Melech. The three opponents were Oded Forer, Naor Shiri and Merav Ben Ari.

Last month, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara announced plans to indict Gotliv for “disclosure and publication of secret information” under the Shin Bet Law. Gotliv then asked the Knesset to declare that she should receive immunity, saying the prosecution was brought against her in bad faith.

At the hearing, Baharav-Miara said the investigation began after a request from the Shin Bet, because revealing the details of a fighter whose identity was barred from publication during the war created a security risk. She said the publication was at the heart of the alleged criminal offense and directly harmed the values protected by the law, adding that granting immunity here would seriously damage equality before the law and the public interest.