Education Minister Warns Against Right-Wing Vote Splitting

Israeli Education Minister Yoav Kisch expressed concern Tuesday that a new right-wing political movement led by Ofer Winter could siphon votes away from established parties, potentially costing the right-wing bloc the election. Speaking on 103fm radio, Kisch urged right-wing voters to cast their ballots only for parties expected to clear the electoral threshold, warning that Winter's movement could become a "Yisrael Beiteinu of the right" in 2022, failing to pass the threshold and wasting votes.

Kisch revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had held onto reserved spots on the Likud party list until the last minute in an effort to facilitate a merger with Winter's group. "The fear is that the Winter event will become the Merav Michaeli event of the left in 2022," Kisch stated, referring to a party that ultimately failed to pass the electoral threshold. He emphasized that voters who support the right should only vote for parties that are guaranteed to enter the Knesset, explicitly excluding "Handel" and "Winter."

Kisch clarified that his opposition was not to the individuals involved but to the strategic risk of vote dilution. He acknowledged that most of Winter's supporters are likely right-wing voters but stressed the importance of consolidating votes to ensure a right-wing majority. He also dismissed recent opinion polls, stating his belief that the public sentiment favors the right and that the main challenge will be mobilizing voters to turn out on election day.

Separately, Kisch strongly condemned the film "Nezah Yehuda," calling it part of a campaign against Israel. He supported the IDF Chief of Staff's consideration of treason charges for those involved, arguing that statements by Israelis against the state and the military during wartime undermine Israel's international public relations efforts. He cited examples of former Israeli leaders making statements that complicate the country's narrative, particularly when contrasted with the military's efforts to avoid civilian casualties. Kisch concluded by praising the education system's resilience during the war, calling it "the Iron Dome of the Israeli home front."