House Committee in Israeli parliament to convene to decide fate of Netanyahu
by Jordan Hilger, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – An Israeli parliamentary committee will convene to determine the political fate of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, lawmakers decided Monday.
The Knesset voted 16-5 to create a 30-member House Committee tasked with deciding whether Netanyahu should receive immunity from charges that he bribed media for favorable coverage, which the premier has called common political practice “selectively enforce[ed]” by his political opponents.
“Many of you think, because that’s what they’ve told you, that immunity for elected officials is granted in perpetuity, that it allows you not to stand trial ever. That’s simply untrue,” Netanyahu explained after he asked the Knesset for immunity on Jan. 1. “According to the law, immunity is always temporary. It is canceled with the end of the term of the Knesset that granted it.”
The current Knesset term ends after unprecedented third Israeli elections on March 2, but the new House Committee is widely expected to reject Netanyahu’s request and see that he stand trial before he has a chance to stand for reelection.