Knesset Committee Erupts Over Immunity Debate, Naor Shiri Ejected

A routine Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee meeting turned into a shouting match on Monday during a debate over the parliamentary immunity of MK Tali Gottlieb of Likud. Committee chair MK Ofir Katz was forced to use his authority and order MK Naor Shiri of Yesh Atid out of the room after Shiri made a pointed remark at Gottlieb.

Just before being removed, Shiri tried to invoke his parliamentary status, shouting, "I have immunity, you cannot remove me." Gottlieb shot back, "The rules come before your immunity," a response that resonated because of the wider controversy surrounding her own immunity issues. Witnesses said the atmosphere in the room quickly became tense and embarrassing, and the discussion was briefly halted.

The article says Shiri's comments were seen by many as a deliberate provocation and a cynical attempt to test the line between parliamentary immunity and the committee's disciplinary rules. It also frames the episode as another sign of the deep tension in the Knesset, where immunity has become a political weapon in day to day clashes between coalition and opposition.

The committee had recently approved the dissolution bill, and political friction is intensifying. The piece notes that other contentious committee fights are also unfolding, including the disputed appointment of MK Limor Son Har-Melech as chair of the Health Committee. The broader question, the article says, remains unresolved, where exactly the boundary lies between parliamentary privilege and obedience to Knesset procedure.