Ofer Winter to Run Independently, Rejecting Union Offers

Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Yisrael" party, has officially submitted his party's list to the Knesset, confirming its independent run in the upcoming elections. The party requested the Hebrew letter "ך" for its ballot symbol. This decision closes the door on any potential mergers with other parties ahead of the vote.

The move comes after significant pressure on Winter in recent days to unite with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionism party. Smotrich himself had urged Winter to join forces to prevent vote dilution on the right, reportedly holding off on finalizing his own party's list to accommodate a potential merger. Religious Zionism stated that Smotrich would now re-evaluate strengthening his list through reserved spots.

Numerous rabbis and yeshiva leaders within the Religious Zionism movement also publicly appealed to Winter to join the unity effort, warning against political risks and emphasizing the importance of solidarity for the sake of Israel. They directly urged Winter to "take responsibility" and continue Smotrich's efforts for right-wing unity.

Winter had also been in negotiations with the Haredi Public party, led by Moti Lightner, offering them the eighth and ninth spots on his list. However, the Haredi Public party rejected the offer, citing concerns about not crossing the electoral threshold and securing adequate representation for the Haredi public. They indicated their intention to reach the next Knesset regardless of a deal with Winter.

With the submission of the "Am Yisrael" list, Winter and his party are now set to compete independently in the elections.