Yinon Magal drops a political bombshell – Tali Gottlieb hits back

Yinon Magal reported this evening (Sunday) on the X network that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is holding an emergency meeting following information that Tali Gottlieb and May Golan are conducting contacts to join the "Otzma Yehudit" party. In response, Gottlieb and Golan attacked Magal, claiming he published the information to harm them in the Likud primaries to be held tomorrow. Netanyahu clarified in a post on social networks: "I do not intervene in the national list and wish everyone success."

In a post he published, Magal wrote: "Sources in Netanyahu's environment told YinonNews: an emergency meeting is being held this evening in the Prime Minister's office following information that arrived during the day, according to which Tali Gottlieb and May Golan held contacts to move to Ben Gvir - and out of fear that they will take the mandate and move to him after the elections."

"I will vote tomorrow in the Likud primaries for a winning list that will ensure that Eisenkot and Yair Golan will not form a narrow government with the Arab parties as they promised. I rely on you, Likud members, to choose your representatives correctly according to your discretion. I do not intervene in the national list - and I wish everyone success!"

Magal continued: "In the meeting itself, Netanyahu said that these are disturbing data that join polls showing that both of them harm Likud and distance 2-3 potential mandates from the party. However, he instructs his people not to intervene in the choice and says that he trusts the members to know how to choose. Despite this, in the last few hours, heads of groups identified with Netanyahu are already working to remove them from their lists because of this."

In response, Gottlieb wrote: "Yinon Magal, the friend of Ronen Bar and Dadi Barnea, because of whom we will never know what happened to us in the October massacre, is busy blackening me and scaring voters away from me. This time you went too far. You are spreading a disgraceful lie according to which the PM is holding a meeting at this moment that there is a fear that I will take the mandate and move to Otzma Yehudit."

Gottlieb wrote that "the PM sends you a warm greeting because he is not in his office at the moment and he is not holding any such meeting. More than that, I am worth 6 mandates as you know if I were to run alone, but I am committed not to my ego but to the right-wing camp. I am an electoral force in Likud and your friends in the Shin Bet leadership are very worried about me. The bullying at best that you showed towards those who worked under you at Walla does not impress me. A warm greeting to Ronen Bar, the dangerous conspirator whose pawn and mouthpiece you are, whitewashing him and his guilt for the October massacre. In a short time, a formal denial will come out from the Likud spokesperson. By the way, the God you believe in has long since not believed in you."

Minister May Golan also responded to Yinon Magal: "When the waves get stronger, the strong are revealed! So let it be clear: there is no truth in the pathetic, false and distorted briefing that Yinon Magal published! It never happened and could not have happened! I certainly understand that the 'fourth-rate' associates are bothered by my strengthening among the ideological, smart and principled Likud members."

Golan also wrote: "For the sake of removing doubt, just 3 days ago Prime Minister Netanyahu summoned me to a meeting at his place where he told me full-mouthed how much he supports me and appreciates my activity, and that he knows that only because of my constant loyalty to him and to Likud I am going through a campaign of persecution and framing by the most evil and cruel people in the history of Israeli politics and the right. The Prime Minister further added that if I had dared to look in another direction and for a moment retreat from my values and constant loyalty to Likud - all the framed investigations against me would have been closed within 24 hours! The Prime Minister urged me and asked me to ignore the background noise and continue to act with all my might! So remember, beloved and dear Likud members: 112 at the ballot box - I will continue to be your proud fighter and the fighter of the national camp!"

The exchange of accusations comes against the background of various reports about Knesset members in the ruling party who are seeking to find another political home for themselves. The ban on the candidacy of incumbent (and former) Knesset members, ministers and deputy ministers within the slots allocated to districts, has caused great anger and frustration in recent weeks among Likud ministers and Knesset members, most of whom are not expected to be part of the next list.

After Gilad Erdan announced last week the establishment of the 'Unity' party under his leadership, together with MK Yuli Edelstein, several incumbent MKs and candidates in the Likud primary list, disappointed by Netanyahu's reservations and the change in the primary system, turned to figures in Erdan's environment, and probed regarding joining the party.