Blue and White vows to move ahead with Netanyahu immunity debate

Blue and White chairman MK Benny Gantz says his party will convene the Knesset’s Arrangements Committee “as soon as possible” to begin the process of voting on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request for immunity from prosecution in three criminal corruption cases.

“I have instructed the chairman of the Blue and White faction, MK Avi Nissenkorn, to convene the Arrangements Committee as soon as possible in order to establish the Knesset committee to discuss Netanyahu’s immunity,” Gantz says in a statement.

“Netanyahu asked for it, Netanyahu will get it,” he promises, referring to the premier’s request for an immunity vote.

A majority of the current Knesset is believed to be opposed to immunity for Netanyahu.

Netanyahu had hoped to delay a vote until after the March 2 election in order not to find himself going into election day on trial for corruption. Those hopes were dashed earlier today when Knesset legal adviser Eyal Yinon ruled that Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, a Likud lawmaker, cannot prevent the formation of a committee to consider Netanyahu’s immunity request.