Ben Gvir Announces Tali Gottlieb's Joining: "She Will Be Number 2"
Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir announced that MK Tali Gottlieb is joining his party from Likud. Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf has agreed to vacate his spot for her.
The chairman of Otzma Yehudit, Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, announced today (Friday) that MK Tali Gottlieb will be number 2 on the Otzma Yehudit list in the upcoming elections. The announcement was made during a joint media statement at Beit Zioni America in Tel Aviv. According to Ben Gvir, Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf agreed to move to the third spot and vacate his place for her.
Gottlieb stated in her remarks:
"We saw Otzma Yehudit in the Knesset; they are record-holders in legislation. I have said more than once that one should learn from Minister Ben Gvir, who is not afraid to lead right-wing governance. Ben Gvir is a fearless minister and was a fearless defense attorney."
She claimed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, "whom I appreciate very much, an excellent leader, needs us—Otzma Yehudit—to keep him strong." Gottlieb added: "I brought Miara and her cohorts to their knees. The indictment against me is a terrible persecution out of a desire to silence a legitimate opinion."
In response to a question about the potential joining of Minister May Golan, Ben Gvir replied: "She is a good friend of mine and an excellent minister. We will publish the list later; it is not enough to be friends. But you will see in the list we publish what Otzma Yehudit will bring." The minister also declared that his party is aiming for 15 mandates.
Representatives of Likud and Otzma Yehudit reached an agreement yesterday regarding Gottlieb's move. According to the agreed terms, Gottlieb will not be declared a defector, will not resign from the Knesset, and will continue to serve as an MK under Likud's factional discipline, with her funding remaining within the party until the formation of the 26th Knesset. At the time of submitting the lists, she will be placed on the Otzma Yehudit list, thereby freeing up a spot for another woman in Likud, likely Gila Gamliel.
Political sources who spoke with her indicated that her primary fear stems from the fact that if she is not elected to the next Knesset, she will face an indictment without the protection of immunity. Ben Gvir, citing polls, predicted that Gottlieb could add about two mandates to his party and promised her a ministerial role if they form part of the government. Gottlieb has claimed in interviews and private conversations that, given her 20th spot on the Likud list—which does not guarantee re-election—she expects to end up under investigation by the Shin Bet due to the indictment filed against her for revealing classified information about a Shin Bet agent.
