Israeli Knesset lifts immunity from Yitzhak Mordekhai

The Israeli Knesset on Wednesday decided to withdraw parliamentary immunity from former Israeli transport minister Yitzhak Mordekhai, who is accused in three sexual harassment cases.

An Israeli parliamentary source said that the Parliamentary affairs committee had taken this decision with a majority of 16 votes backing the decision with one parliamentarian abstaining from voting who is Rony Millo of the central party ( 6 members ), Mordekhai used to lead before his resignation by the end of May.

The legal advisor for the Israeli government Eliakim Robinshtine announced during the meeting of the committee that these behaviors represent" grave violations" and that the verdict has evidences condemning Mordekhai.

For his part Mordekhai who attended the meeting denounced the " defaming campaign" targeting him and said he welcomes to be brought before the court to prove his innocence.

Mordekhai who was accused following complaints raised by three women, is facing an imprisonment penalty ranging between 21 months and 7 years.

He was accused by one woman working at the ministry of transport and then two other women raised similar complaints to this effect.