Likud Plans to Dismantle New Party by Offering Union Deal

The Likud party is reportedly formulating a strategy to dismantle the newly launched "Am Israel" party, founded by Ofer Winter, by offering a complex merger proposal. The plan, as reported by Channel 12 News, involves integrating Winter's party with that of Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin, while also securing two reserved spots on the Likud's own list for Winter's associates. Specifically, Winter has been offered the second position on the unified Smotrich-Feiglin list, with an additional spot in the top ten for another representative from his party. Concurrently, two of Winter's key figures would be placed on the Likud's slate. One such individual, Yosef Haddad, Winter's second-in-command, was reportedly approached with a similar offer even before joining Winter's party. The proposed deal also includes a commitment that Winter's faction could split off into an independent faction after the elections. Political analysts suggest that if this merger fails, Likud will likely shift to a public relations campaign warning against vote dilution within the right-wing bloc, avoiding direct attacks on Winter. As of now, Winter has rejected the offer. He is simultaneously exploring potential alliances with the Economic Party led by Yaron Zelekha and the Haredi public party. In response to the political pressure, Winter and Haddad issued a joint statement asserting that "the people of Israel demand something new," and positioning "Am Israel" as the sole option for those seeking to integrate Haredim into the IDF and support soldiers and their families, stating they "will not be a shield for Gafni and Goldknopf at the expense of the conscripts."