Religious Leaders Urge Ofer Winter to Unite Right-Wing Parties

Dozens of prominent rabbis and heads of religious Zionist yeshivas have issued a public appeal to Ofer Winter, chairman of the 'Am Yisrael' party, urging him to unite forces within the right-wing political bloc ahead of the upcoming Knesset elections. The rabbis stressed the critical nature of the current week, stating it will determine whether the right will enter the elections with a unified front or in disarray.

In their letter, the religious leaders directly addressed Winter, calling on him to "take responsibility" and promptly advance the unity efforts initiated by the Religious Zionist Party leader and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. They warned against the risks of separate candidacies by various right-wing factions, emphasizing that given the current challenges, there is no room for political gambles.

"Unity is always good, and certainly when great dangers for all of Israel are at stake," the rabbis wrote. They concluded their appeal with the phrase, "Ofer, safety and danger, safety is preferable. One must not take risks when it concerns all of Israel."

Among the signatories were Rabbi Eitan Eisman, head of Tzvia institutions; Rabbi David Haim HaCohen, head of Orôt HaTorah Yeshiva in Bat Yam; Rabbi Eliezer Gordon, Rabbi of the Shomron and president of Alon Moreh institutions; Rabbi Shabtai Sabato, head of the Mitzpe Yericho Yeshiva; Rabbi Yehuda Sadan, head of the Bnei David Yeshiva in Eli; and Rabbi Joshua Shapira, head of the Ramat Gan Yeshiva, among many others.