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Knesset Debates Immunity For MK Tally Gotliv As Iran Missile Threat Looms — Treason Claims Ignite Row

Knesset Debates Immunity For MK Tally Gotliv As Iran Missile Threat Looms — Treason Claims Ignite Row
MK Tally Gotliv and and MK Ofir Katz attend a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 8, 2026. (photo credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

The Knesset House Committee met to consider granting immunity to Likud MK Tally Gotliv after an indictment accusing her of publishing classified information under the Shin Bet law. Gotliv used two hours to attack Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, screened video material and repeated treason allegations linked to October 7, 2023. Baharav-Miara attended and urged the committee to deny immunity, saying the indictment was professionally justified. The debate took place amid renewed Iranian missile threats, drawing opposition criticism over timing.

The Knesset House Committee convened on Monday to consider whether Likud MK Tally Gotliv should be granted parliamentary immunity after an indictment accusing her of publishing classified information in violation of the Shin Bet law. The hearing unfolded against the backdrop of renewed hostilities with Iran, prompting criticism from opposition lawmakers who said the session distracted from an active security threat.

What Happened

Gotliv used her allotted time to deliver a two-hour statement that included a prolonged personal attack on Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who filed the indictment against her. She also screened video clips and renewed accusations that acts of treason occurred around the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks — allegations that drew sharp rebuttals from other MKs.

Prosecution’s Case

Baharav-Miara made a rare Knesset appearance to present the prosecution’s position and had previously written to committee members requesting that Gotliv’s immunity be denied. The indictment, filed in May, centers on a social-media post published January 24, 2024. Prosecutors say the post reproduced a screenshot from the website Edna Karnaval that included the full name of protest leader Shikma Bressler’s partner and alleged ties between him and then-Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar in the days before October 7.

The indictment alleges Gotliv knowingly revealed and published the identity and Shin Bet affiliation of the individual, in breach of the Shin Bet law. Prosecutors say the post remained online from publication until the indictment, that Gotliv repeated similar claims afterward, and that she publicly refused to remove the material or apologize.

Claims and Denials

The contested screenshot purported to quote a headline alleging that Mossad chief David Barnea received U.S. intelligence of intercepted calls between Bressler’s partner and Sinwar days before October 7, and that Barnea summoned Bressler to a meeting. The Mossad called the claim a “recycled falsehood” and denied the account; the Prime Minister’s Office also denied Gotliv’s earlier statements.

Knesset Debates Immunity For MK Tally Gotliv As Iran Missile Threat Looms — Treason Claims Ignite Row
Israeli attorney general Gali Baharav Miara attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 8, 2026. (credit: YONATAN SINDEL/FLASH90)

Public Reach

Prosecutors noted the post’s wide reach: more than 400,000 views, over 1,000 comments, over 1,000 likes and more than 500 shares. They also reported that Gotliv’s X account grew from roughly 65,000 followers at the start of the relevant period to over 90,000 by the time the indictment was filed.

Political Context

Gotliv and several coalition MKs have long clashed with Attorney-General Baharav-Miara. The government voted last year to dismiss Baharav-Miara amid the rift, but the High Court overturned that decision. Earlier this year, Defense Minister Israel Katz signed a confidentiality certificate that removed a procedural obstacle ahead of the indictment.

Committee Rules And Reactions

The session, chaired by coalition whip Ofir Katz, took place in a room that serves as a protective space due to the Iran conflict. Committee members were subject to special procedural rules: interruptions were barred under penalty of removal, and only MKs who attend at least half of the meetings on the matter will be eligible to vote. An additional hearing on the immunity request was scheduled for Tuesday.

MK Vladimir Beliak (Yesh Atid) described the proceedings as alarming: “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.”

Democratic Union leader Yair Golan criticized the timing of the hearing: while northern residents sought shelter and schools were closed amid Iranian missile alerts, the coalition was pressing ahead with the immunity debate.

Next Steps

The committee will decide whether to forward Gotliv’s immunity request to a full Knesset vote. If immunity is denied, the criminal case will proceed to court. If immunity is granted, prosecution could be blocked or delayed under the Knesset Members’ Immunity Law.

Sarah Ben-Nun contributed to this report.

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