MK Tali Gottlieb Claims Netanyahu Plans Coalition Without Ben-Gvir

Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb, who recently left the Likud party to join the Otzma Yehudit party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir, has sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In an interview with Eliraz Sade on i24NEWS, Gottlieb alleged that Netanyahu has no intention of advancing the judicial reform and would prefer to form a government with Gadi Eisenkot over including Ben-Gvir.

"The Prime Minister didn't push me to number 20 for no reason. The Prime Minister does not intend to carry out a reform in the legal system. I said this and I say it with great sadness. He also doesn't want Otzma Yehudit in the government. He wants Eisenkot," Gottlieb stated. She defended Ben-Gvir's actions, saying, "Itamar Ben-Gvir dares to come out against [Attorney General] Miyara and against appointments he doesn't approve. Really, excuse me that Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is doing his job and ensuring appropriate appointments and knows to block inappropriate ones."

Gottlieb also discussed a meeting she had with Netanyahu the previous evening. She claimed Netanyahu told her Ben-Gvir was mistaken to say he would sit with Eisenkot. Gottlieb recounted telling the Prime Minister, "Itamar Ben-Gvir is not mistaken because you will indeed sit with Eisenkot, because for entire terms you sat with left-wing parties." She added that if her account were untrue, Netanyahu's office would have issued denials.

Looking ahead, Gottlieb warned viewers that Otzma Yehudit must secure 15 Knesset seats, otherwise, "you will get a government with Eisenkot and Netanyahu." She asserted that her party would recommend Netanyahu as part of a bloc, implying a coalition without Ben-Gvir was a possibility.