Likud MK Tali Gottlieb Accuses Senior Ministers of Pressuring Netanyahu Over Primary Elections

Likud Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb has sparked controversy within Israel's ruling party by publicly accusing senior Likud ministers of exerting heavy pressure on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to block open primary elections for the party's candidate list. In a pointed tweet on her X account, Gottlieb defended Netanyahu, stating he insists on holding primaries out of respect for Likud voters. She identified the main opponents as Haim Katz, who pushes for a coordinating committee instead, supported by Yariv Levin and Israel Katz. Gottlieb sharply criticized these senior ministers for conducting their campaign through anonymous leaks and messages rather than openly defending their positions. She called on them to show courage and stand behind their views publicly, emphasizing that she herself stands openly behind every word she says. This internal Likud dispute highlights ongoing tensions over the party's candidate selection process ahead of upcoming elections.