Israeli Minister Offers Political Deal to Rival Ahead of Elections

Israeli Minister Eli Cohen has publicly urged Ofer Winter, a potential rival in the upcoming elections, to withdraw from the race and accept a guaranteed position in the next government. Speaking on 103FM radio, Cohen proposed that Winter could still negotiate with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a future role, stating it is "not too late" for him to step aside.

Cohen, who is part of the Likud party, indicated that Winter had previously been offered a place on the Likud list before finalizing electoral slates but chose to run independently. Cohen believes Winter's independent candidacy could jeopardize the national camp's electoral prospects, citing internal polling data that suggests Winter draws almost exclusively from the right-wing electorate, with 97% of his support coming from that sector. He warned that Winter's participation might lead to the loss of tens of thousands of votes.

While acknowledging that poll results vary, with some showing Winter failing to cross the electoral threshold and others predicting up to four mandates for his party, Cohen stressed the importance of responsible decision-making. He suggested that securing a future appointment through negotiation would be the responsible course of action.

Cohen also addressed reports of private investigators allegedly targeting Winter, stating he had no knowledge of or involvement in such activities and preferred to focus on the political aspects of the situation. In separate remarks, Cohen commented on the issue of ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) military service, asserting that while they are part of Israeli society, they should also be subject to conscription, noting that many Haredim do not attend yeshivas.

Regarding foreign policy, Cohen stated that Israel, in collaboration with the United States, has helped mitigate and delay Iran's nuclear threat and has also assisted regional countries. He added that nations seeking cooperation with Israel must be open to negotiations.