MK Tally Gotliv responded Monday evening to a Channel 12 News report that she was allegedly in talks to move to another political framework, saying she would consider such a move under the right circumstances.
Gotliv directly criticized the Prime Minister's inner circle. "I have put myself on the line for the Prime Minister and the right-wing government," she wrote on social media. "If I were to receive a realistic offer from a party that respected my electoral strength and my clear ability to serve as a minister in a highly important position, I would seriously consider it for the sake of my voters. For now, there is no such offer."
She went on to sharply criticize the conduct of the faction's leadership and campaign team: "I will not agree to be treated as a doormat while I wage a determined battle against bureaucratic rule and the Supreme Court's reckless overreach in its outrageous rulings on diplomatic, military and political matters. The Prime Minister followed the advice of those around him to target me in the primaries. In a David-versus-Goliath battle, and thanks to the trust of Likud's right-wing members, I came 12th in the primaries, and because of the reserved slots, I am now in 20th place."
Gotliv also addressed her exclusion from the election campaign and positions she said Netanyahu prevented her from receiving: "Unfortunately, the Prime Minister, as is his right, excluded me from the Likud campaign. The campaign team decided not to address our duty to restrain the power of the Supreme Court. The campaign team continues to brief against me and portray me as a force that weakens Likud. I was elected to promote right-wing governance and put an end to the reckless conduct of the Supreme Court, which has arrogated to itself authority that does not belong to it and, in my view, has come to see itself as a superior branch of government. The Prime Minister made up his mind not to allow me to serve as Justice Minister and not even as chair of the Constitution Committee, and decided to push me into a hidden corner at the back. That is his right."
Her remarks followed a report that Gotliv had held talks with an alternative political party and issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu demanding a reserved slot at number 12 on the party's slate.
Meanwhile, sources within Likud said the party had decided to reject her demands and the ultimatum she had presented.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected Gotliv's claims, saying: "Regarding MK Gotliv's claim that there is some secret plea bargain, of course this is an absolute lie with no basis whatsoever."