Knesset debates immunity for MK Tally Gotliv amid Iran missile crisis and treason claims

Baharav-Miara joined the panel, making a rare Knesset appearance.

The morning debate over Gotliv's immunity came despite the renewed conflict with Iran, which began the evening before and continued into the night.

This led to sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers over focusing on the contentious matter while the country has remained under threat from Iranian missiles, and as all schools have been shut down.

An additional panel to advance the highly controversial bill on conducting a political probe into the October 7 Hamas attacks had also remained on the Knesset’s schedule throughout the morning until it was later announced that the meeting was postponed.

The indictment against Gotliv was filed by Baharav-Miara in May for allegedly publishing the identity of the partner of protest leader Shikma Bressler, who the indictment says was a Shin Bet employee.

The charge listed in the indictment is revealing and publishing confidential information under the Shin Bet law.

Under the Knesset Members' Immunity Law, Gotliv was able to request that the Knesset grant her immunity from criminal prosecution before the case proceeded to court. Baharav-Miara joined the meeting, and both she and Gotliv received allotted times to present their stance.

“It’s a blessed day,” Gotliv told the panel in her opening remarks, over having the ability to request immunity in the Knesset. Her argument focused on personally criticizing Bahrav-Maria and argued that she should be fired from her role as attorney general.

In Gotliv's lengthy remarks spanning over the course of two hours, she also screened a video to the panel with clips that she presented as “evidence of betrayal” during the October 7 Hamas attacks in 2023. She made accusations of treason that she claimed took place during the attacks, presenting various theories to the panel and sparking outrage from opposition MKs.

MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid)  stated that “An insane event is currently taking place in the Knesset House Committee, in which a deranged MK is spreading wild conspiracy theories and accusing the IDF and the Shin Bet of treason.”

Democrats leader Yair Golan slammed the government, stating that while schools are shut down due to the Iranian missile threat, and “while residents of the north are running to shelters under fire... the coalition is mobilizing the Knesset to defend Tally Gotliv’s immunity."

Goltiv and numerous other lawmakers from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition have repeatedly clashed with Baharav-Miara for years. The government voted to fire her last year amid the ongoing rift, though the High Court struck down the decision.

Ahead of the Knesset debate, Baharav-Miara penned a letter to members of the panel requesting that Gotliv’s immunity be denied.

She explained that the indictment against Gotliv was filed on the basis of “professional, objective, and good-faith discretion,” and that none of the grounds for parliamentary immunity apply in her case.

The discussion was led by coalition whip Ofir Katz and held in a room that also serves as a protective space, due to the Iran conflict.

MKs were required to abide by special requirements in the panel, and later will be expected to vote on granting her immunity. Lawmakers were not permitted to make interruptions or else they would be removed from the panel, and the rules stipulated that only MKs who participated in all meetings on the matter would be eligible to vote.

Attendance for at least half the duration of a meeting would be considered as participation. An additional meeting on the matter has been scheduled for Tuesday.

The indictment against Gotliv was filed in May based on her publishing on January 24, 2024, a screenshot from the website Edna Karnaval that included the full name of Bressler’s partner and claims tying him to alleged contacts with then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before the October 7 massacre.

Edna Karnaval is described by the indictment as having a “critical and blunt” style, especially toward public officials.

The article further claimed that Barnea had summoned Bressler to a meeting, and that the Prime Minister’s Office had later issued a denial of Gotliv’s earlier statements.

The indictment says the post received more than 400,000 views, over 1,000 comments, over 1,000 likes, and more than 500 shares. It says that Gotliv’s X account had more than 65,000 followers at the start of the relevant period, and more than 90,000 by the time the indictment was filed.

The indictment further says Gotliv stood by the publication, repeatedly published similar statements in which she again identified Bressler’s partner as a Shin Bet employee, and publicly stated that she had no intention of removing or apologizing for what she had written.

The Mossad denied the claim at the time, calling it a “recycled falsehood” and saying Barnea had “never met, spoken to, or invited Shikma Bressler to a meeting.”

Earlier in May, Defense Minister Israel Katz signed a certificate of confidentiality ahead of the indictment filing,  clearing a procedural obstacle that had delayed the case.

Gotliv has repeatedly framed the matter as a political and legal fight over her work as an MK. In her post ahead of the indictment, she wrote that the attorney-general had acted after Katz signed the confidentiality certificate, and said she had not yet received the indictment, adding that she expected to read it “soon at one of [Miara’s] mouthpieces.”