Ofer Winter Launches New Party Challenging Smotrich and Ben Gvir in Israeli Right-Wing Politics

On Tuesday, two major events captured Israeli headlines: in the morning, MK Tzvi Sukkot destroyed a monument in a Palestinian village, and in the evening, Ofer Winter launched a new political party named "Israel Amcha." While Sukkot’s act targeted Palestinian symbols, it also symbolically challenged the Religious Zionist Party, stirring controversy within the right-wing camp.

Bezalel Smotrich, leader of the Religious Zionist Party, expressed frustration not at the destruction itself but at the political optics, recognizing that the current generation of "light" Religious Zionist voters, more integrated into secular society and centered in urban areas like Ra'anana and Petah Tikva, has different priorities than the traditional settler base. Smotrich’s focus remains on these moderate voters, who are more concerned about issues like ultra-Orthodox military exemptions than settlement expansion.

In contrast, Winter’s new party targets a different demographic, appealing to right-wing voters seeking fresh alternatives, including supporters of Yossef Hadad, a Christian Arab IDF veteran and influential social media figure with a massive online following. Winter, a proud mechanized infantry officer and man of faith, positions himself more as a grassroots fighter than an establishment Religious Zionist leader.

Despite media framing the emerging rivalry as a battle between Winter and Smotrich, Winter’s real competition is with Itamar Ben Gvir and even the Likud, aiming to reclaim right-wing voters who have drifted to centrist or other right-wing parties. Winter’s launch has already triggered reactions across the political spectrum, including cautious endorsements and criticism.

With approximately 600,000 first-time voters expected in the upcoming elections, many young, right-leaning, and undecided, Winter’s party could influence the right-wing bloc’s future. However, establishing a new party in Israel’s complex political landscape is challenging, as seen with previous attempts by prominent politicians. The next sixty days will reveal whether Winter’s party becomes a significant force or fades away.