Netanyahu Holds Emergency Meeting Over Fears of Likud Members Defecting to Otzma Yehudit

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened an urgent political meeting at his office on Sunday following intelligence that two prominent Likud candidates, MK Tali Gottlieb and Minister May Golan, had engaged in talks about potentially joining Otzma Yehudit, the far-right party led by Itamar Ben-Gvir. The concern raised was that both might secure spots on the Likud list through party members' votes in the upcoming primaries, only to later defect to Ben-Gvir's faction, weakening Likud's electoral strength.

Netanyahu described the information as "disturbing" but instructed his team not to interfere directly in the primaries, expressing trust in the party members to make the right choices. Despite this, Netanyahu-aligned group leaders have begun efforts to remove Gottlieb and Golan from their recommended candidate lists. The tension reflects broader internal struggles within the right-wing bloc, as every realistic spot on the Likud list is a valuable political asset ahead of the elections.

Both Gottlieb and Golan strongly denied the allegations. Gottlieb accused journalist Yinon Magal of spreading falsehoods and emphasized her loyalty to the right-wing camp, asserting she is a significant electoral asset for Likud. Golan also rejected the claims, stating Netanyahu recently expressed full support for her and urged her to ignore political attacks. She reaffirmed her commitment to Likud and the national camp, urging party members to support her in the primaries.

The controversy emerges less than a day before the Likud primaries open, amid reports that Otzma Yehudit has sought to strengthen its influence by courting right-wing Likud candidates. Netanyahu's concern centers on the potential loss of two to three Knesset seats if these candidates defect after winning on the Likud list, which could weaken his party's position in the upcoming elections.