Otzma Yehudit Urges Likud to Finalize Transfer of MK Tali Gottlieb Today

Ahitmar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Otzma Yehudit party, has pressured senior Likud officials to complete the technical and legal procedures for transferring MK Tali Gottlieb to his party by Wednesday. Ben-Gvir intends to begin notifying Otzma Yehudit's candidates of their Knesset list placements today, after which such a transfer would be impossible. This move comes after Likud failed to take any concrete steps to facilitate Gottlieb's transfer, despite media reports suggesting otherwise, and has reportedly stalled various initiatives aimed at advancing the process.

Otzma Yehudit believes Likud is delaying to negotiate for additional concessions. However, they also view the proposed transfer as highly speculative, with significant opposition within their own party. They feel Likud's procrastination is jeopardizing the opportunity, which is increasingly fading. Some within Otzma Yehudit also believe that Gottlieb's strained relationship with Likud will benefit them electorally, regardless of whether she joins their party.

Gottlieb's political standing within Likud has diminished significantly after she secured the 12th spot in the party's primaries, far below expectations of a top-ten placement. Following reserved spots allocated by Prime Minister Netanyahu, her position dropped to 20th on the Likud list. Gottlieb has stated that Netanyahu does not want her in Likud and that she will consider concrete offers, potentially resigning from the Knesset if none materialize. She previously praised Otzma Yehudit as an "excellent party" and indicated she would seriously consider an offer from them.

Likud has previously dismissed Gottlieb's claims as "baseless and false," asserting that "the voters' decision in the primaries was clear, the problem is with those who are not willing to accept it."