The Knesset plenum approved this afternoon (Wednesday) granting immunity from criminal prosecution to MK Tali Gottlieb of the Likud, who is accused of publishing the identity of a Shin Bet agent who is the partner of the leader of the Reform protest that arose in Breslar.
62 Knesset members voted in favor of granting immunity, compared to 48 who opposed.
The Shas and United Torah Judaism parties saw the vote as an opportunity to humiliate Attorney Gali Bahar from Yara and the judicial system, and therefore voted in favor of granting immunity.
The Shin Bet agent whose identity Gottlieb revealed petitioned the High Court of Justice, requesting that the Knesset's decision to grant her immunity be overturned.
Last month, Bahar Meara announced her intention to file an indictment against MK Gottlieb for the offense of disclosing or publishing confidential information under the General Security Service Law.
In response, Gottlieb submitted a request to the Knesset to establish immunity from criminal prosecution.
The day before yesterday, the Knesset committee approved the granting of immunity, and today is the deadline for the plenary to approve it, 30 days after the indictment against her was filed.
Gottlieb said: "The legal advisor to the government has a clear goal - to sabotage, thwart and blacken the right-wing government. We are dealing with someone who is persecuting the government and will do everything she can to accuse the government of the October inferno. There is a clear goal here: to whitewash the Shin Bet top brass and blacken the government of the October inferno. We will never know how the October inferno happened to us. I stand by my inherent immunity - this was done within the framework of my job, for the people and for the sake of my job.".
MK Yuli Edelstein said earlier that he would not support granting immunity. "If Arab Knesset members were to reveal the names of Mossad agents and Shin Bet personnel? Would we remain silent even then? There are consequences for everything.".
