Knesset Approves Tally Gotliv’s Request for Immunity

On Wednesday, the Knesset voted to accept the House Committee’s recommendation and grant immunity to MK Tally Gotliv from criminal prosecution. The decision was made under the Knesset Immunity Law, Rights and Duties of Members of the Knesset, on two grounds: that the alleged act was carried out while she was performing, or in order to perform, her parliamentary duties, and that the indictment was filed in bad faith or with discrimination.

The vote passed on both grounds. On the first basis, 61 lawmakers supported the immunity request and 48 opposed it. On the second, 62 supported it and 48 opposed it.

Last month, Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara said she intended to indict Gotliv for disclosure or publication of classified information under the Shin Bet Law. Gotliv then asked the Knesset to grant her immunity against criminal prosecution for the charge.

In a statement, Gotliv said the attorney general had a clear goal of undermining and tarnishing the right-wing government, adding that she was seeking to “tarnish the Shin Bet leadership” and “blacken” the government over the October 7 disaster. “We will never know how the October disaster happened to us,” she said. “I stand by my substantive immunity, this was done במסגרת התפקיד שלי, for the people and for my role.” House Committee chair MK Ofir Katz said the committee held three long and thorough hearings, heard Gotliv’s position in detail, gave Baharav-Miara a chance to argue her case, and then approved the recommendation to the plenum by 11 votes to 3.