MK Tali Gottlieb Joins Otzma Yehudit Party Ahead of Elections

Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb and Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir held a joint press conference Friday, announcing Gottlieb's move to the far-right party. Ben-Gvir revealed that Gottlieb will be placed second on the Otzma Yehudit list for the upcoming 26th Knesset elections. "Welcome to the Otzma Yehudit family," Ben-Gvir stated, praising Gottlieb as one of the "most diligent ideologues."

Ben-Gvir explained that Gottlieb was initially slated for the third spot, but Yitzhak Wasserlauf offered her the second position in exchange for his own.

Gottlieb expressed her gratitude to Ben-Gvir, stating her desire for the "good of the people and the land." She lauded Otzma Yehudit for achieving the "impossible," passing complex legislation, and changing the political agenda. Gottlieb emphasized her fight against the "rule of officials" and her success in confronting Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and her associates, whom she accused of "malicious persecution." She also spoke out against "legal apartheid" and asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs Otzma Yehudit to remain "strong and right-wing."

The move follows an agreement reached Thursday between the Likud party and Gottlieb. Under this deal, Gottlieb will run with Otzma Yehudit without being declared a defector by Likud. She will remain bound by Likud's factional discipline in all votes until the current Knesset's term ends. The Likud party briefly stated, "We wish Tali success."

This arrangement allows Gottlieb to join another party without facing parliamentary sanctions, such as being barred from running in future elections on a list represented in the Knesset. Political analysts suggest this maneuver benefits both sides: strengthening Otzma Yehudit's right-wing ideological base to maximize bloc votes, and assisting Likud chairman Netanyahu in appealing to more moderate center-right voters.