Ran Baratz Slams Right-Wing Attacks on Ofer Winter's Party

Dr. Ran Baratz, former head of the National Public Diplomacy Directorate, has issued a sharp critique of the right-wing's opposition to retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter's independent political run and party. Baratz expressed deep disappointment with the right's treatment of Winter, warning of a loss of fundamental principles within the national camp.

"I am sorry, but the right's hatred of Winter and his party, where those I know are clearly right-wing figures, shows that the national camp is no longer truly national," Baratz stated. He elaborated that the right's traditional strength, its solidarity and willingness to reach out to the other side, is being exploited, and that "Bentism and Kaplanism have taken over the right."

Baratz directly attacked individuals on the right orchestrating the campaign against Winter, accusing them of acting as immoral propagandists devoid of conscience or solidarity. He described the current situation as an unprecedented low, characterized by a lack of judgment, baseless hatred, panic-mongering, and repulsive propaganda, mirroring tactics previously used by Naftali Bennett against Benjamin Netanyahu and the Likud party.

Concluding his remarks, Baratz issued a grave warning about the future of the entire camp, drawing a parallel to his earlier prediction that Bennett would damage the Religious Zionist movement. He emphasized the ease of sowing division and hatred versus the difficulty of subsequent reconciliation, stating this is now happening on a larger scale to the right-wing camp. Baratz urged a step back, advising, "Take a thousand steps back."