Ben-Gvir Ultimatum: Complete Gotliv Transfer Today

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir delivered a sharp message Wednesday morning to senior officials in the Likud party: if they genuinely intend to transfer Knesset member Tally Gotliv to his Otzma Yehudit (Jewish Power) party, they must complete the necessary technical and legal procedures by day's end. Otherwise, he made clear, the opportunity will expire.

Ben-Gvir indicated he plans to begin notifying Otzma Yehudit candidates today about their placement on the party's Knesset list, a step that would make it impossible to reverse any arrangement. "If Likud truly wants to transfer MK Tally Gotliv to Otzma Yehudit, complete the required procedures today instead of issuing empty briefings to the media," the minister stated. "Otherwise the window closes from my perspective. I'm starting to notify candidates about their list placement, and after that it will be too late."

The escalating message comes against a backdrop of significant discrepancy between Likud's media briefings and actual developments on the ground, according to Ben-Gvir's party.

Recent days have seen reports of intensive contacts regarding Gotliv's transfer to Otzma Yehudit, yet no practical steps have been taken to advance the matter. Likud has not only failed to initiate the required technical procedures but has actively blocked initiatives by various parties attempting to move the process forward, sources say.

Otzma Yehudit officials estimate that Likud is attempting to negotiate for additional concessions in exchange for transferring Gotliv. "This deal is already highly speculative," party sources claimed. "There are elements within Otzma Yehudit who strongly oppose it, so Likud's delays are effectively killing the option, which is fading away."

Otzma Yehudit officials also believe that public tension between Gotliv and Likud will benefit them at the ballot box, even if she ultimately doesn't join the party in practice. The public dispute and perception that Gottlieb is being pushed out of Likud could attract voters who identify with her criticism of the Prime Minister and his inner circle.

Gotliv herself has left the door open to a transfer in recent days. In an interview with Channel 14, she said: "The Prime Minister unfortunately doesn't want me in Likud. When I receive a concrete offer I'll consider it, if I don't have to resign from the Knesset." She criticized Netanyahu's inner circle and claimed she is being excluded from Likud's campaign and that the Prime Minister has no interest in allowing her a senior role in the next government.