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 a "diligent ideologue."

Ben-Gvir explained that Gottlieb was initially slated for the third spot, but Yitzhak Wasserlauf offered her the second position in his place. Gottlieb expressed gratitude to Ben-Gvir, stating her commitment to the "good of the people and the land." She lauded Otzma Yehudit for passing complex legislation and changing the public discourse, emphasizing her own fight against "the rule of officials" and what she termed "malicious persecution" by figures like Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara.

"I stood against legal apartheid," Gottlieb added, asserting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu needs Otzma Yehudit to remain "strong and right-wing." The move follows an agreement reached Thursday between Gottlieb and the Likud party. Under this deal, Gottlieb will run with Otzma Yehudit without being declared a "defector" by Likud, allowing her to avoid parliamentary sanctions that would prevent her from running with another party.

In return for the agreement, Gottlieb will maintain full adherence to Likud's factional discipline in all votes until the current Knesset's term ends. The Likud party briefly stated, "We wish Tali success." Political analysts suggest this arrangement benefits both sides: strengthening Otzma Yehudit's right-wing base to maximize bloc votes and aiding Netanyahu in appealing to more moderate center-right voters.

Ben-Gvir welcomed Gottlieb, calling her a "true warrior" against injustice, the "deep state," and those who allegedly persecuted the prime minister. He expressed pride and happiness in her joining the party.