Likud Reverses Stance, Allowing MK Gottlieb's Move to Otzma Yehudit

The Likud party has reversed a previous legal position, withdrawing a petition that could have blocked Member of Knesset (MK) Tali Gottlieb's transfer from Likud to the Otzma Yehudit party. This move comes after a legal complication arose from Likud's own argument in a separate case, which stipulated that a Knesset member switching parties must resign to run with an existing party in the next election.

Gottlieb has adamantly refused to resign from the Knesset, fearing it would revoke her parliamentary immunity. She was granted immunity in June related to a case where she is accused of revealing classified information about a Shin Bet agent. Resigning, even temporarily, could jeopardize this protection.

The situation created a dilemma for Likud, as their prior legal stance would have required Gottlieb to resign. To resolve this and facilitate her move without her stepping down, Likud's legal representative informed Supreme Court Justice and Central Elections Committee Chairman Noam Sohlberg that the party was retracting its earlier claim. Likud now argues that if both the party and the MK agree to the transfer, she should not be classified as a "defector" and thus not be required to resign.

This reversal was prompted by an ultimatum from Otzma Yehudit leader Itamar Ben-Gvir to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Ben-Gvir demanded that all approvals for Gottlieb's transfer be finalized immediately before his party's candidate list closes. Ben-Gvir intends to offer Gottlieb a prominent position, likely fourth, on the Otzma Yehudit slate.

The legal maneuvering by Likud aims to achieve several objectives: enabling Gottlieb's move to Ben-Gvir's party with their consent, potentially strengthening the right-wing bloc electorally, and preserving Gottlieb's criminal immunity. The final decision now rests with Justice Sohlberg, who must rule on Likud's revised interpretation of the election law.