PM's Office Briefings Against Tali Gottlieb Risk Undermining Right-Wing Voter Motivation

Recent briefings from the Prime Minister's Office targeting Knesset member Tali Gottlieb are being criticized as a strategic mistake that could cost the right-wing bloc dearly in the upcoming elections. As public sentiment shifts further right following the October 7 attacks, critics argue that the PMO remains stuck in a pre-October mindset, failing to support fighters like Gottlieb who resonate with voters seeking strong leadership against elite pressures.

Political commentator Shimon Riklin highlights that while some polls suggest a move toward the center or left, he believes the electorate is actually moving rightward, which could weaken centrist figures like Avi Dichter and Nir Barkat. Gottlieb symbolizes a political awakening within Likud, rejecting old compromises with the elite, and the PMO's attempts to undermine her are seen as unfair and counterproductive.

Prime Minister Netanyahu himself has undergone a significant shift since October 7, becoming more assertive, raising questions about why he would prevent others from making a similar transformation. The main electoral challenge for the right may be voter turnout, with Gottlieb motivating people to vote, unlike politicians who have been absent during the fight against the Supreme Court's perceived overreach.

The briefings suggesting Gottlieb might defect with Likud mandates to Otzma Yehudit's Itamar Ben-Gvir are described as delusional and indicative of a loss of composure within the PMO. Riklin asserts that Likud voters are discerning and will choose candidates genuinely committed to change rather than those seeking comfort in the Knesset. The upcoming Likud primaries will test these dynamics and the party's electoral prospects.