MK Tally Gotliv leveled serious accusations against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and linked her placement on the Likud list to the fate of the judicial reform, the N12 news site published on Monday evening.
Gotliv also hinted at a political future outside Likud and said she was considering leaving for another right-wing party, saying “I would consider it seriously.”
“It is not for no reason that the prime minister is trying to push me aside. He knows that my placement on the list is high because I want to be justice minister, because you want me to be justice minister. But he has a deal in his hands. Write down what I am telling you: the prime minister will receive a pardon as long as there is no judicial reform, as long as there is not even the slightest change to the Supreme Court justices and their powers. And that is the painful truth,” Gotliv said in a recording.
Following the broadcast of the recordings by N12, Gotliv published a post on X/Twitter directly responding to the remarks. She wrote that her “tremendous dedication” to the prime minister and the right-wing government had always been immense, and that she had even “thrown herself on the grenade” for them.
She said that while she does not expect applause, she would certainly not agree to be a “doormat” while waging a determined battle against the power of unelected officials and what she described as the Supreme Court’s “outrageous” rulings on diplomatic, military, and political issues.
According to Gotliv, Netanyahu followed the advice of those around him to carry out a “targeted assassination” against her in the Likud primaries. However, in a “David vs Goliath” battle, and thanks to the support of right-wing Likud members, she managed to secure 12th place, only being pushed down to 20th place due to reserved slots.
Gotliv added that, to her disappointment, Netanyahu used his authority to exclude her from the Likud campaign, while campaign officials decided not to address the party’s obligation to restrain the Supreme Court’s power.
She accused campaign officials of continuing to brief against her and portray her as a weakening force within Likud, despite her election being intended to advance right-wing governance and curb what she called the Supreme Court’s reckless conduct after it acquired authority it did not possess and elevated itself above other branches of government.
Gotliv further said that Netanyahu had decided not to allow her to become justice minister or even chair the Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, and had chosen to push her into a hidden back position, which she said was his right as prime minister.
She concluded her remarks by addressing rumors about a possible political move, saying that if she received a realistic offer from a party that respected her electoral strength and her clear ability to serve as a senior minister, she would consider it seriously on behalf of her voters. However, she said no such offer was currently on the table.
Likud denies claims that Netanyahu has secret plea deal
Likud responded: “Regarding MK Gotliv’s claim that there is a hidden plea deal, this is of course an absolute lie with no basis whatsoever.”
Gotliv’s accusations come amid a dramatic decision Netanyahu made the night before the Likud primaries, which were held on August 18. After a lengthy period of hints, Netanyahu openly and unequivocally came out against MKs Gotliv and May Golan.
A strong statement from Netanyahu’s associates followed an emergency discussion he held in his office regarding the two lawmakers. The discussion was reportedly driven by concerns that the two intended to leave for Otzma Yehudit, and perhaps an even greater concern that they were damaging the Likud list.
Political sources described the move as a “dramatic political assassination attempt” by the prime minister in the final stretch before the primaries against the two MKs, whom he did not want to see placed near the top of the list.
The moves correspond with a report published in Maariv about two weeks ago, according to which the reserved slots given to Israel Katz, Gideon Sa’ar, and Haim Katz in the top 10 were intended, among other things, to push Gotliv lower on the list.
Although no official confirmation was provided at the time, it is now clear that Netanyahu was determined to prevent her from securing one of the top spots on the Likud slate.
Gotliv expresses support for Ben-Gvir's independence from RZP
At the same time, Gotliv on Friday publicly expressed support for Itamar Ben-Gvir’s refusal to unite with Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, despite heavy pressure from Netanyahu.
According to Gotliv, Ben-Gvir was “completely right” and should not serve as a “lifeline” for Smotrich.
Gotliv argued that the responsibility to show maturity rests with Smotrich, and suggested alternatives such as running together with Ofer Winter or Moshe Feiglin.
Alternatively, she suggested that Smotrich could receive a reserved slot on the Likud list if there were concerns that he would not pass the electoral threshold, saying the right-wing camp does not have the “privilege” of wasting votes that could lead to a government relying on Ra’am.
Meanwhile, the prime minister’s son, Yair Netanyahu, launched a direct attack against Ben-Gvir over his refusal to join a broad technical bloc.
Yair Netanyahu questioned what was behind the refusal, hinting that it was driven by “personal hatred and ego,” and recalled that he had previously worked to help Ben-Gvir when his party was close to the electoral threshold.
Netanyahu concluded with a historical warning, comparing the situation to the 1992 election. He said the split on the right at the time led to the rise of Yitzhak Rabin’s government and the Oslo Accords, and warned that Ben-Gvir could be remembered in a similar way if he continues running separately and harms the bloc.