Israel's ruling Likud party announced Thursday evening that Knesset member Tali Gottlieb will be permitted to run in the next election on the slate of Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit), the party led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir. Under the arrangement, Gottlieb will remain subject to Likud's coalition voting discipline until the 26th Knesset convenes.
"Likud and Tali Gottlieb have agreed that MK Gottlieb will be able to run in the elections for the 26th Knesset with the Jewish Power faction and will not be declared a defector," the party stated in an official announcement.
"As part of the agreement, Gottlieb is committed to being subject to Likud party discipline in votes until the 26th Knesset. We wish Tali success," the statement added.
The breakthrough came after significant progress in negotiations between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ben-Gvir on the matter earlier Thursday. Political observers are characterizing the move as "a net gain for both parties."
Earlier this week, Ben-Gvir had set a deadline for the arrangement, stating that he planned to begin notifying Jewish Power candidates of their placement on the party's Knesset list as early as Wednesday, a step that would have made any deal impossible. "If Likud truly wants to transfer Tali Gottlieb to Jewish Power, carry out the required procedures today instead of empty briefings to the media," the minister said. "Otherwise, the window of opportunity closes from my perspective. I'm starting to notify candidates about their placement on the list, and after that it will be too late."
Jewish Power strategists believe the public tension between Gottlieb and Likud will work in their favor at the ballot box. The public dispute and the 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.
On Monday, Gottlieb wrote on social media: "Unfortunately, the PM, as is his right, has sidelined me from the Likud campaign, and the campaign people have decided not to touch our duty to rein in the power of the High Court of Justice. The campaign people continue to brief against me and present me as a weakening force in Likud. I was elected to lead right-wing governance and to cut down the reckless conduct of the High Court, which has granted itself authority that isn't its own and has turned itself, in its own eyes, into a supreme authority."
"The PM has decided definitively not to allow me to be Justice Minister or even chair the Constitution Committee, and has decided to push me to a hidden corner in the back," she added. "I lay down on the fence for the PM and the right-wing government. If I were to receive a realistic offer from a party that would respect my electoral power and my clear ability to be a minister in an important role, in the name of my voters I would consider it seriously. I will not agree to be a trampled doormat."
Gottlieb had been deeply disappointed by her 12th-place finish in the party's primary election, particularly following pressure from Netanyahu's inner circle against her candidacy.
After most votes were counted, she wrote on social media: "Even if the PM's circle really worked hard to thwart and weaken me, even if all the organized votes in the streams received instructions not to mark me, even if I'm the only one who didn't receive a message from the prime minister to strengthen her, Likud's right-wing voters fought for me with tremendous force."
Reporter Amit Segal reported that Gottlieb had threatened Netanyahu that if she didn't receive a protected spot at number 12, she would consider leaving. Likud sources made clear: the ultimatum was rejected outright.
