Likud MK Tally Gottlieb Accuses Netanyahu's Circle of Lying

Member of Knesset Tally Gottlieb launched a sharp attack on Tuesday against the circle surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following reports that Netanyahu had spoken with Gottlieb and Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to "calm them down" and assure them that Otzma Yehudit would be included in the next government. In a statement, Gottlieb asserted that the reports were false, stating, "To the attention of the Likud spokesperson, the Prime Minister's circle published a false briefing yesterday claiming the Prime Minister spoke with Minister Ben-Gvir and me and "calmed us down" that he would include Otzma Yehudit in the next government. Well, no such conversation took place!! Netanyahu's circle is lying." Gottlieb suggested the false briefing was a reaction to the public's support for Otzma Yehudit and the belief that only a strong Otzma Yehudit, with 15 mandates, could lead a right-wing government. She emphasized that a strong Otzma Yehudit is necessary to keep the Prime Minister on the right and preserve the right-wing bloc.

Earlier the same day, the Likud party issued an angry statement responding to briefings suggesting Ben-Gvir feared Netanyahu would form a broad government excluding Otzma Yehudit. The Likud stated, "Ben-Gvir, enough with the bluff. Prime Minister Netanyahu has made it clear many times that he will form the next government based on the existing parties of the national camp. Instead of your attacks on the Likud, we recommend you focus on preventing the formation of a left-wing government by [Gadi] Eisenkot with [Yair] Golan, [Avigdor] Lieberman, and the Arab parties."