Abutbul Warns Against Winter's Independent Run, Citing Right-Wing Bloc Damage

Member of Knesset Moshe Abutbul of the Shas party has cautioned against voting for Ofer Winter's new political party, warning that it could fracture the right-wing bloc in Israeli politics. In an interview with Arutz 7, Abutbul expressed concern that a party failing to pass the electoral threshold could lead to wasted votes and harm the bloc's overall strength.

Abutbul argued that Winter should have joined an existing political framework rather than forming his own party. He dismissed the idea that Winter's party might attract new voters, stating, "This is a very cute story, but it doesn't match reality at all." He cited past experiences where smaller right-wing parties that did not pass the threshold ultimately damaged the broader bloc.

Furthermore, Abutbul raised concerns about Winter's lack of political experience, noting, "There are those who think very good thoughts, but they have no political experience. And we have a lot of experience with people who have no experience." He urged voters not to support parties that are unlikely to pass the electoral threshold, fearing a "break in the right-wing bloc."

Abutbul questioned Winter's decision to run independently, suggesting he could have joined established parties like Likud or the Religious Zionism party. He referenced the past political careers of Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett as cautionary tales of independent runs that ultimately failed and led to negative outcomes for the right-wing, including the formation of a government he deemed destructive.