Education Minister Kish Warns Right-Wing Voters Against Wasted Votes

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch expressed concern Tuesday that a new right-wing political venture led by Ofer Winter could siphon votes away from established parties, potentially costing the right-wing bloc crucial seats. Speaking on 103fm radio, Kisch urged right-wing voters to cast their ballots only for parties expected to clear the electoral threshold.

Kisch revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held onto reserved spots on the Likud party list until the last minute, hoping to facilitate a merger with Winter's movement. "My fear is that the Winter event will become the left's Merav Michaeli event of 2022," Kisch stated, referring to a party that failed to pass the threshold in the previous election, leading to lost votes. He implored, "Whoever wants a right-wing government should vote only for parties that pass the electoral threshold, not for Hendel, not for Winter."

Kisch emphasized that the opposition to Winter's independent run was not about the individuals involved but about the risk of votes being wasted. He clarified, "At no stage did I speak about the people in these parties, whether they are worthy or not. That is not the issue. The issue is the electoral threshold which will cause a loss of votes." He acknowledged that most of Winter's supporters are right-wing voters, stating, "I did not say he is not right-wing."

Regarding recent polls, Kisch expressed skepticism, citing his own observations of public support. "I travel around the country and see the great affection we have. I think in the end, the public is right-wing," he asserted. He warned that some polls might aim to discourage voter turnout and urged citizens to vote to influence the outcome.

Kisch also strongly condemned the controversial film "Nezar," calling it part of a campaign against the State of Israel. He supported the IDF Chief of Staff's consideration of treason charges for those involved, arguing that statements by Israelis against the country and the military during wartime undermine Israel's international public relations efforts. He cited examples of former Israeli leaders and officials making statements that he found damaging during international interviews. Kisch differentiated "Nezar" from critical statements made within the coalition, describing the film as a "deliberate campaign against IDF soldiers" and asserting that claims of civilian harm are "lie upon lie upon lie," given the military's efforts to prevent civilian casualties.

Reflecting on his tenure as Education Minister during the war, Kisch praised parents, teachers, and students for their resilience, calling the education system "the Iron Dome of the home front."