Revital "Tally" Gotliv (born 3 November 1975)[1] is an Israeli lawyer and politician. She is currently a member of the Knesset for the Likud.[2]
In her legal career, Gotliv worked for the State Attorney in the Tel Aviv district and represented defendants in sex crime cases. She garnered attention for her criticism of a rape victim's testimony on social media, which led to a complaint filed against her by the Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel, although the complaint was later shelved. Gotliv's bid for the chairmanship of the Israel Bar Association in 2016 marked her as the first woman to run for the office, although she came in last place. She was also a panelist on Channel 13's Shishi until May 2022.
Gotliv's political career began with her co-founding the Shavim party, which focused on equality for parents and individuals with disabilities, but garnered only 401 votes in the 2019 election. Subsequently, she joined Likud and was elected to the Knesset. Known for provocative rhetoric, she has made controversial statements on social media and has been accused of spreading conspiracy theories.
Gotliv worked for the State Attorney in Tel Aviv district. Gotliv has primarily represented defendants accused of sex crimes.[5] In the case of a 16-year-old girl whose attacker was convicted of rape and indecent acts committed when the girl was 14, Gotliv criticized the girl on social media and called her testimony "distorted."[5] The Association of Rape Crisis Centers in Israel filed a complaint against Gotliv with the Ethics Committee of the Israel Bar Association. However, the Israel Bar Association decided to shelve the complaint.[5]
In 2012, Gotliv was disqualified by the evaluation center for prospective judges based on the criteria of "judicial temperament."[6]
In 2015, Gotliv ran for chairmanship of the Israel Bar Association, becoming the first woman to run for the office.[7] She came in last of four candidates,[5] losing to Efi Nave.[8]
Ahead of the April 2019 election, Gotliv helped found Shavim, a political party meant to promote equality between parents and for those with disabilities. She was given the second spot on the party's electoral list. The party won 401 votes. During the 2022 election, she ran for a spot on the Likud's electoral list, and was elected to the twenty-fifth spot.[10][2]
Views
After the 2023 Huwara rampage, Gotliv refused to condemn the attacks.[11] In February 2023, she posted a tweet accusing Supreme Court President Esther Hayut of responsibility for a terrorist attack that took place in the Ramot neighborhood of Jerusalem in which three people were killed. As a result, Knesset Ethics Committee banned her from speaking at plenary sessions for two meetings and participating in committee meetings for three sessions.[12]
During the October 2023 Gaza–Israel conflict, Gotliv called for the use of a nuclear Jericho missile, which she referred to as a "doomsday device",[13][14] later saying "Only an explosion that shakes the Middle East will restore this country's dignity, strength, and security. It's time for a doomsday weapon shooting powerful missiles without limit. Not flattening a neighborhood, crushing and flattening Gaza."[14]
Gottliv has also called for subjecting "the Gaza population" to "thirst and hunger" as a means to achieve military objectives, including the release of Israeli citizens held as hostages by Hamas.[15] "Starvation as a Method of Warfare" is a war crime according to the Geneva Conventions.
In May 2024, after the United States delayed the delivery of precision missiles to Israel, Gotliv stated that Israel should instead use missiles which were imprecise and thus more destructive. "We have imprecise missiles! So maybe instead of using a precise missile to take out a specific room or a specific building, I'll use my imprecise missiles to flatten 10 buildings. That's what I'll do. If you don't give me precise missiles, I'll use imprecise missiles," Gotliv said. Gotliv's comments were condemned by the United States Department of State as "absolutely deplorable."[16]
An Israeli military base built at Beit Lid was invaded by right-wing protesters in July 2024 after the Israeli military police detained nine Israeli soldiers at Beit Lid for suspected abuse of a Palestinian prisoner; Gotliv protested outside the base.[17]
In September 2024, she called for the arrest of the director of the Israeli human rights group B'Tselem, accusing her of “aiding the enemy” for speaking out before the UN Security Council.[18]
Controversy
Since her entry into the Knesset, Gotliv has become known for making controversial statements, including a claim about an alleged meeting between the Mossad and Shikma Bressler, a leader in the protest movement against the government's proposed judicial reforms. Gotliv first promoted this claim on October 3 2023, which was promptly denied by the Mossad.[19]
In January 2024, Gotliv made a similar claim, according to which the Mossad intercepted a phone call between Shikma Bressler's husband and Yahya Sinwar days before the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel. The Mossad rejected Gotliv's claim, calling it "recycled fake news" and accusing Gotliv of spreading conspiracy theories.[20][19] Following the incident, Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar accused Gotliv of violating both criminal and civil law and harming national security, by publication of personal details of Shin Bet employees, which he stated endangered their lives and the lives of their families.[21] In February 2024 Bressler announced she had filed a defamation suit against Gotliv for claiming that Bressler had "communicated with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar before October 7." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also criticized Gotliv's claims as "false."[22]
In another occasion, Gotliv has also accused the Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet of "working for terrorists."[19]
