Lawmakers vote to form House Committee to debate Netanyahu immunity

The Knesset Arrangements Committee votes to form the parliamentary House Committee, which will debate Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s immunity request.

Sixteen MKs support the move, while five oppose it.

Likud has opposed the move, as Netanyahu hopes to delay a decision on his request for parliamentary immunity until after the March 2 election, when he would hope to have more support in the Knesset.

If Netanyahu’s request is brought to a vote before the elections — and it is not yet clear whether there will be time to do so — the House Committee is expected to reject the prime minister’s bid for immunity from prosecution in the three graft cases for which he has been charged.

The formation of a House Committee still requires a full plenum vote in the Knesset. Arrangements Committee chairman Avi Nissenkorn of Blue and White says he hopes it will be held this week.