"That's no way to govern": Tally Gotliv attacks Israel Katz
MK Tally Gotliv attacked Defense Minister Israel Katz over his apology in the affair of the dismissal of Major General Avi Bluth, claiming he should have stood behind the decision. Meanwhile, senior Likud officials warned of deepening politicization in the IDF. Gotliv and Katz clash again, after in May Katz signed a confidentiality certificate that allowed an indictment to be filed against her.
MK Tally Gotliv launched an attack against Defense Minister Israel Katz, after he published an apologetic response following the uproar surrounding the dismissal of Major General Avi Bluth. In a video she posted on X, Gotliv claimed that the apologetic response - in which Katz wrote that the attempt to present his words as a call for dismissal is a "complete lie" and part of a "political campaign" - proves he retreated under pressure instead of standing behind the decision to fire a general who, she claims, "rebelled" against his authority. This is not the first time Gotliv and Katz have clashed publicly. In May, after a prolonged delay, Katz signed a confidentiality certificate required for conducting the criminal proceedings against Gotliv. The signing paved the way for filing an indictment against her for revealing and publishing classified information in violation of the Shin Bet law, after Gotliv exposed the identity of the partner of protest activist Shikma Bresler as a Shin Bet operative. Gotliv did not spare criticism of Katz then, writing sarcastically about his move. Katz tried to ease the tension and stated he would act with all his might to assist Gotliv in her fight against the removal of her immunity, but the affair revealed deep distrust between the two. Gotliv is not a lone voice: other senior Likud officials expressed criticism of the move and told Maariv: "Even if you want to fire the general - you don't do it like that on air. The politicization Katz is leading in the appointments sector in the IDF will destroy the people's army." Katz, in response, claimed that the attempt to present the message differently is a "media attempt to divert the discussion from the real question" - who will serve as defense minister in a future government.