While Netanyahu is in Washington: The Knesset is expected to approve the establishment of the Immunity Discussion Committee

The plenary is expected to approve the establishment of a committee to discuss the PM's request, after the Knesset Speaker delivered his opinion on the matter. Although the debate and vote on the establishment of the committee are expected, the conference is expected to take several hours. Members of the right-wing parties are expected to be absent.

While Netanyahu in Washington: The Knesset is expected to approve the establishment of the Immunity Discussion Committee

The Knesset plenum is expected to approve the establishment of the Knesset committee tomorrow (Tuesday) to discuss the immunity petition filed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a decision to indict him for bribery, fraud and breach of trust. Establishment of the committee is a process that began after a legal opinion by the Knesset Speaker, Ilan Yanun, which endorsed this, despite the fact that it is an election campaign in which Knesset committees do not work.

In a joint decision with the Likud, members of the right-wing bloc, including the right-wing parties, Shas and Torah Judaism, will boycott the Knesset plenary. So far, they have not decided whether they will behave similarly in committee discussions dealing not only with Netanyahu's request for immunity Haim Katz (Likud). Likud MK Speaker Mickey Zohar told Walla! NEWS that "the right block does not take part in this farce." He said, "It's a scandalous behavior by the left that has gained the majority of cases with one common denominator - 'just not Bibi'. I have no doubt this behavior will come back to them like a boomerang."

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The plenum is expected to approve the establishment of the committee. Netanyahu (Photo: Reuven Castro)

PM Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu During the Opening of the Likud Campaign for the 2020 Election, National Buildings, Jerusalem, January 21, 2020 (Photo: Reuben Castro)

Although this is a debate and vote on the establishment of the committee, the convention is expected to take several hours, according to the number of Knesset members who will be asking to speak. Each will only be given three minutes. Blue and White Chairman Benny Gantz, who met with US President Donald Trump yesterday, said he intends to attend the debate but in light of the boycott of the right-wing bloc, it is doubtful he will be able to arrive in time before the vote. In contrast, Netanyahu is likely to be absent due to his stay in the United States, in light of the publication of the Century Plan for Peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

The Likud has refused to cooperate with the establishment of the Knesset Committee, and so far, this is the only party that has not reported in advance the identity of the eight members to sit on its behalf. This is a decision that does not delay the establishment of the committee, but may prevent the party members from taking part in discussions and voting. In contrast to the Likud, the other parties in the right-wing bloc announced the identity of their members in the committee.

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The committee is expected to chair. MK Nissenkorn (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Knesset Dispersion Session, 11 December 2010 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Following the establishment of the Knesset Committee in the plenum, it is expected to convene immediately for the first technical discussion in which its members will vote on the identity of MK - Avi Nissenkorn, chairman of the Blue and White faction. Nissenkorn is the head of the regulating committee since Gantz received the mandate for assembly. The government after the last elections, and immediately after this meeting, the committee secretariat will send summonses to the first session where the discussions on Netanyahu's immunity will begin, which are expected to last only a week.

The first hearing is scheduled for Thursday at noon, during which Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit is expected to read the indictment filed against the prime minister. In this debate, as in all other hearings, Netanyahu will be able to announce his participation but will not be required to. In addition, he also has the opportunity for his attorneys to take his place and represent him. If there are no changes, the discussions on Netanyahu's immunity will only last a week.

The committee will also discuss his request. MK Haim Katz (Photo: Reuven Castro)

Minister Haim Katz of Likud, December 26, 2018 (Photo: Reuven Castro)

So far, Netanyahu has not ruled out the possibility of a last-minute withdrawal of the request for immunity, a move that will prevent him from public and media embarrassment surrounding the frequent discussions during an election period. If he does so, there will be no need for hearings on his request in the Knesset Committee and the Attorney General will immediately file the indictments against him with the Jerusalem Magistrate's Court.

At the same time as Netanyahu's immunity hearings, the Knesset committee will also discuss MK Haim Katz's immunity request from the Likud. Katz filed his immunity request near the previous election, but so far we have not discussed it following the establishment of the Knesset committee. In the morning, hours before Netanyahu's hearing, Katz has met with many Knesset members in recent months, explaining why he deserves immunity, following calls by some members of the Knesset, both in the right-wing bloc and in the other factions.