Jerusalem Post/Israel Election 2026The party's statement said that Gotliv must continue to vote with the Likud in the current 25th Knesset, but can run on Otzma Yehudit's ticket for the 26th Knesset election. Follow us on GoogleMK Tally Gotliv attends a hearing on petitions against the government’s dismissal of Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara, at the Supreme Court in Jerusalem, December 1, 2025.(photo credit: CHAIM GOLDBERG/FLASH90)BySHIR PERETSSEPTEMBER 3, 2026 20:14Updated: SEPTEMBER 3, 2026 21:16Likud MK Tally Gotliv will be permitted to run with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s Otzma Yehudit Party in the election for the 26th Knesset, Likud announced on Thursday.“The Likud and Tally Gotliv agreed that MK Gotliv will be able to run in the elections for the 26th Knesset as part of the Otzma Yehudit faction and will not be declared a defector,” the party said in a statement.“As part of the agreement, Gotliv is required to remain subject to the Likud party’s faction discipline in votes until the 26th Knesset,” Likud added, stating: “We wish Tally success.”The arrangement allows Gotliv to move politically toward Otzma Yehudit ahead of the next election without being formally designated as having left the Likud faction during the current Knesset.In Israel, to be declared a defector would trigger certain political and financial sanctions, including making the party member ineligible to run in the next election.MK Tally Gotliv attends a House committee meeting at the Knesset, the Israeli Parliament in Jerusalem on, June 15, 2026. (credit: Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)Ben-Gvir welcomed Gotliv into his party with open arms, saying she was “joining a family of fighters.”“We know, and we have seen, that you are a true fighter: a fighter against injustice, a fighter for justice, a fighter against the deep state, and a fighter against those who persecuted our dear prime minister. Tally, we are proud of you. We embrace you. We are delighted that you are joining us – welcome!” he wrote.Gotliv’s future with Likud was called into question after the party’s primary electionGotliv initially said she would consider joining Otzma Yehudit, after being placed 20th on Likud’s election list following the party’s primary election, if she received a serious offer. She said she would always remain loyal to the Likud party and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.After placing lower on the Likud list than initially expected, Gotliv said she believed she had been deliberately pushed down and had asked Netanyahu to restore her to the 12th position.Previous reports have indicated that Gotliv will likely receive a top five slot on Ben-Gvir’s list, though the party is only expected to share its full list next week.Follow us on Google