Establishing a committee supported by Lieberman: a blue-and-white initiative that may thwart immunity

Immediately after Netanyahu's declaration, Chairman Israel Beitano announced that his party would support the establishment of a Knesset committee to discuss its immunity. Now, there are a majority of MKs who oppose immunity - which may thwart the PM's request

Establishing a committee supported by Lieberman: a blue-and-white initiative that may thwart immunity

Israeli House Speaker Avigdor Lieberman announced on Wednesday that he will support a blue-and-white course for the Knesset committee to discuss immunity for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the election period - contrary to the party's position in the past. In addition, Lieberman unanimously voted against Giving immunity to Netanyahu, as much as that would cost him a vote.

His announcement comes after Prime Minister Olmert announced his intention to appeal to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein to request parliamentary immunity from prosecution, which he filed before the deadline he had to do so, at midnight tonight. Lieberman has previously stated that he is against the possibility of immunity, but now He made it clear for the first time that he and his party members would vote against the Knesset, in a statement released immediately after Netanyahu's statement, Lieberman said: "It is now beyond doubt. All that interests Netanyahu is immunity. With that he gets up in the morning, the one he lives and breathes during the day and with that he goes to bed. "

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He made it clear for the first time that he and his party members would vote against immunity. Lieberman (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Israel House in Knesset Dispersion Meeting (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Lieberman added: "The State of Israel has become a hostage to Netanyahu's personal, private problem. It is not interesting to the left, nor the right, nor the religious nor the secular. The only thing that stands before him is the Immunity Coalition." According to him, in Israel our home will not be part of the "Immunity Coalition", as it were.

Blue and White announced earlier this week that they intend to convene a regular committee to discuss the establishment of the Knesset Committee due to Netanyahu's intention to apply for immunity. The Knesset committee is expected to discuss Netanyahu's request for immunity, and according to the Knesset Attorney General, if a majority is achieved, it will be possible to establish it during an election period. However, Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein's approval is required for the move.

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His party initiates the establishment of the Knesset Committee during the election period. Gantz (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Statement by Benny Gantz after Rahm's Immunity Announcement, Kfar Maccabiah, January 1, 2020 (Photo: Shlomi Gabay)

Knesset Spokesperson, Adv. Ilan Yanun, clarified a month ago that "even if at this time there is no legal obligation for the Knesset to establish the Knesset Committee, For the establishment of a permanent Knesset committee at this stage, I do not believe that there is a legal impediment to do so. " Therefore, following Lieberman's announcement that he would support the establishment of the committee, there is a majority for the Knesset and will apparently be established, subject to Edelstein's approval.

MK Blue Aviation Chairman Avi Nissenkorn applied to Adelstein earlier today to approve the committee's meeting, but the latter responded that he was staying abroad by the end of the week, and before considering the committee's meeting, he would like to hold a meeting with him. The meeting scheduled for tomorrow was postponed to an unknown date. On Sunday, Nissenkorn will meet with Edelstein and the Knesset to discuss the establishment of the committee.

He announced that he would apply for parliamentary immunity. Netanyahu (Photo: Jonathan Waltzer, TPS)

PM Benjamin Netanyahu in Declaration on Immunity Request, Orient Jerusalem \ January 1, 2020 (Photo: Yonatan Veltzer, TPS)

Concurrent with Netanyahu's declaration of his intention to apply for immunity, Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz made a statement in the evening that he strongly attacked him, saying that "Netanyahu knows he is guilty. Those who think there will be nothing because there is nothing afraid to stand trial. "Gantz added that" such immunity is corruption. Such immunity is not a cornerstone of democracy, it is the rooting of democracy. A prime minister is an equal public among equals, not raised from the people and from the justice system. "