Likud MK Tali Gottlieb Challenges Netanyahu Over Party List Reservations After Primaries

Following her successful re-election in the Likud primaries, Member of Knesset Tali Gottlieb has publicly criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to reserve spots on the party's Knesset list for candidates who failed to secure positions in the primaries. Gottlieb argued that these reserved slots were intended to bring new faces and strengthen the party list, not to reinstate unsuccessful candidates. She specifically pointed to Netanyahu's intention to reserve a spot for Avi Dichter, who did not succeed in the primaries, alongside Haim Katz, who was exempted from the primaries.

In a direct message to Netanyahu, Gottlieb questioned his commitment to democracy within the Likud party and the voters' decisions. She proposed that if Netanyahu insists on reserving spots for those who lost in the primaries, he should rearrange the list by promoting successful candidates to the second tier and relegating reserved candidates to the third tier, which she believes would appear more fair.

Gottlieb also urged Netanyahu to prioritize female MKs who won in the primaries and warned against the potential backlash from the left accusing Likud of sidelining women. Her comments come after a turbulent primary season in Likud, where she herself was pushed down the list but managed to secure her place.

The dispute highlights internal tensions within Likud regarding the party's candidate selection process and the balance between democratic primaries and leadership appointments.