Tali Gottlieb to Run Second on Otzma Yehudit List

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir announced Friday that MK Tali Gottlieb will be placed second on the Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) list for the upcoming Knesset elections. This decision follows an offer from Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf to relinquish his third-place position to accommodate Gottlieb in second.

Ben-Gvir welcomed Gottlieb to the party, praising her as one of its most diligent ideologues. He addressed recent reports suggesting Gottlieb would be fourth, clarifying that third was initially intended but Wasserlauf proactively proposed the second spot for her. Gottlieb expressed gratitude to Ben-Gvir and lauded Otzma Yehudit for achieving the "impossible" by passing complex legislation and shifting the political agenda.

Gottlieb spoke forcefully about her battles with the legal system and the civil service, stating she "subdued" Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara and her associates, whom she accused of malicious persecution. She declared she stood against "legal apartheid" and asserted that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whom she respects, "needs Otzma Yehudit to keep him strong and right-wing."

She further claimed Otzma Yehudit members are leading legislators and that Ben-Gvir exemplifies right-wing governance. Regarding her indictment, Gottlieb reiterated her claim of having "subdued" Baharav-Miara and her colleagues, calling the indictment a "terrible persecution" aimed at silencing legitimate opinions.

When asked about the potential inclusion of Minister Miki Golan, Ben-Gvir called her a good friend and excellent minister but stated that further details about the list would be released later. He also indicated Otzma Yehudit is aiming for 15 Knesset seats.

The move for Gottlieb to join Otzma Yehudit was reportedly finalized after intensive discussions between Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir. The Likud party had previously announced that Gottlieb could run with Otzma Yehudit without being declared a defector, though she would be bound by Likud's factional discipline until the next Knesset. Ben-Gvir had issued an ultimatum to Likud earlier in the week, demanding the necessary technical and legal procedures for Gottlieb's transfer be completed to avoid losing the opportunity.