Tensions Flare Between Yinon Magal and Tali Gottlieb Over Alleged Talks With Otzma Yehudit

Yinon Magal reported that an emergency meeting took place at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office following information that Tali Gottlieb and Mai Golan engaged in talks with the far-right Otzma Yehudit party. The concern was that they might defect to Otzma Yehudit after the upcoming elections, potentially taking Knesset mandates with them. Netanyahu described the information as troubling, noting that polls show both politicians are harming Likud's standing by potentially costing the party two to three seats. Despite this, Netanyahu instructed his team not to interfere with voters' choices and expressed trust in the party members to decide. However, Netanyahu's allies have already begun efforts to remove Gottlieb and Golan from their party lists.

Gottlieb strongly denied the allegations, calling them "blatant lies" and stated that Netanyahu was not currently in his office and not holding any such discussions. She emphasized her commitment to the right-wing camp over personal ambition and claimed she could secure six mandates if she ran independently. Gottlieb also criticized Magal and his associates, accusing them of intimidation and political manipulation.

These accusations come amid broader reports of dissatisfaction within Likud, as many current and former ministers and Knesset members face restrictions on running in their traditional districts, leading to frustration and uncertainty about their political futures. Most are unlikely to be included in the next Likud list, fueling internal party tensions.