Ben Gvir Promises Tally Gotliv Cabinet Seat, Slams Likud Over Judicial Reform

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir spoke on 103FM on Tuesday morning, addressing the recent addition of MK Tally Gotliv to his Otzma Yehudit party list. Ben Gvir revealed the internal dynamics that led to her high placement on the slate.

"She was originally supposed to be in the third spot," Ben Gvir said. "Then Yitzhak Wasserlauf came to me and said, 'Itamar, let's give her the second spot, she deserves it—I will move to the third spot.' There are no other parties like Otzma Yehudit. There is mutual love and consideration for one another."

A Diverse Party Slate

Ben Gvir expressed high enthusiasm for the candidate list he submitted for the upcoming elections, emphasizing its diverse representation:

"Look at what a beautiful list we have. We have two women in the top five, and more than a third of the list are secular. We have representatives from the North, from the South—from all over the country. We have an ultra-Orthodox member who served in the military. We have the most diverse list."

He also addressed claims by outgoing Minister May Golan, who asserted that she had rejected an offer to join Otzma Yehudit. Hinting that her version of events was inaccurate, Ben Gvir remarked: "She says she didn't want to, but that is what she is saying. I like May Golan, she is my friend, but friendship is not the criterion for placement on the list. I do not intend to hurt May Golan on air. I think May is a good person. She did not deserve how she was treated in Likud, but she is a Likud member, and I wish her all the best."

Cabinet Ambitions and Judicial Criticism

Ben Gvir declared that he intends to appoint Tally Gotliv to a ministerial position and secure her a seat in the Security Cabinet:

"Certainly not just as a minister, but also as a member of the Cabinet. She is talented, she is excellent—they simply hurt her in Likud. I do not know which ministry she wants yet, and I do not want to make declarations right now, but I will say she will certainly deal with the judicial field."

Concluding his interview, the National Security Minister launched a sharp attack against Likud and Justice Minister Yariv Levin regarding their handling of the judicial reform during the current government's term:

"Look, in Likud they supposedly dealt with the judicial field for four years, but they did not really want to change things there. They talked about judicial reform, they talked about all kinds of things, but in practice: a lot of talk, very little action. I respect Yariv Levin, but his reform was mainly designed so we could say we have a reform. In practice, not much happened. You cannot tell me about a reform when they invite the Attorney General to every single cabinet meeting."