Netanyahu's Last-Minute Bid to Recruit MK Haddad for Likud Fails
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office made a concerted effort, until the final moments before candidate lists were submitted, to dismantle the party led by Ofer Winter, primarily by attempting to recruit Joseph Haddad, who was slated to be second on Winter's list. Sources revealed that Netanyahu's office approached Haddad's associates with offers for a reserved spot within the Likud party. These efforts continued until Monday, just before Winter's "Am Israel" party officially registered its Knesset slate.
Haddad, who had previously been considered for a Likud slot, ultimately rejected the offers, choosing to remain with Winter's new party. He stated that he joined Winter's party because he wanted to be part of a movement bringing a "new spirit" to the Knesset, emphasizing his commitment to the party's platform and its promise of change. "It's no secret that various parties approached members of the Am Israel team and myself with all sorts of offers. But as we promised from the first moment, the Am Israel party will bring only a new spirit to the Knesset, exactly as the people want," Haddad said in response to Ynet.
Winter himself was also a target of Netanyahu's recruitment efforts. The Prime Minister had previously approached Winter, through intermediaries, urging him to abandon his plans to form a new party and accept a reserved position in Likud. Winter declined these overtures, reaffirming his intention to establish and run his own party. This decision reportedly led to a campaign by Likud against Winter, aimed at undermining his support and drawing votes away from him.
Following failed attempts to unite Winter with other right-wing factions, Netanyahu and Likud reportedly began a campaign to delegitimize Winter, arguing that his party posed a risk to the broader coalition bloc by potentially wasting votes. Minister Yoav Kisch publicly expressed concern about "wasted votes" in Winter's party, urging right-wing voters to support only parties that are certain to pass the electoral threshold.
The article concludes by discussing the possibility of an "excess votes agreement" between Winter's party and other right-wing factions. While Netanyahu might be hesitant to legitimize Winter, the need to prevent vote wastage could lead to an agreement, potentially with Itamar Ben-Gvir's party, to ensure votes are not lost.
