MKs slam Netanyahu's immunity request: 'A new low,' says Ya'alon
In a press release, the party warned that should Edelstein not act swiftly enough, they will consider calling for his replacement.
By JERUSALEM POST STAFFFormer Israeli Defence Minister Moshe Yaalon speaks at the Munich Security Conference in Munich, Germany, February 14, 2016(photo credit: REUTERS)
A number of politicians responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement on Wednesday night that he will seek immunity from prosecution by calling for legislative changes and for government committees to be reconvened.Blue and White member Moshe Ya’alon tweeted that, until now, only Arab-Israeli MK’s suspected of ties to terrorists had requested immunity. “Today we reach a new low,” he wrote, “Netanyahu will ask for immunity.”Ya'alon's remarks came minutes after the prime minister made a speech in which he said that he had written a letter to Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein asking him for immunity from prosecution in his three criminal cases.“I wondered today how many hours Netanyahu spent on the immunity issues in recent days instead of dealing with the challenges the country is facing,” Ya'alon added.Meanwhile Yisrael Beytenu leader Avigdor Liberman demanded that Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein instruct the Knesset to reestablish all of its committees to ensure the government will not be without the supervision of parliament. He also announced that his party will vote against granting Netanyahu immunity. In a press release, the party warned that should Edelstein not act swiftly enough, they will consider calling for his replacement.Currently there is no Knesset committee to review Netanyahu's request, holding up court proceedings at least until the March 2 election. And Green Party leader Stav Shaffir responded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's announcement on Wednesday saying “Israeli citizens who did not understand why…they are being dragged to a third election have the answer tonight: [to gain] immunity for a corrupt prime minister.”“The Left-leaning block must unite,” Shaffir said, “and fight this with all their might.”Netanyahu informed the nation he means to ask for immunity as he believes the legal indictment against him is politically motivated. He also claimed that once the Knesset which approves the request is dispersed, the immunity is nullified, and he means to face the indictments against him in court.
