Netanyahu's Tactics Against Challenger Criticized Amidst Opposition's Unclear Platform
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's strategy against Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, is faltering, while Winter's own candidates struggle to articulate their post-election political plans. Netanyahu recently claimed at a Likud event that Winter would switch allegiances after the election to join Avigdor Lieberman's Yisrael Beiteinu party, warning voters against supporting parties that might not pass the electoral threshold or would transfer votes to Lieberman. "Am Israel" quickly retorted that Netanyahu's claims were false and that such a scenario would not occur.
This internal conflict within the right-wing bloc is reminiscent of Netanyahu's past campaigns against political rivals, notably Naftali Bennett, which involved alleged deals with media outlets and the dissemination of damaging information. While a similar overt campaign against Winter has not yet begun, the article suggests that past actions against Bennett were often revealed only in hindsight.
Despite Netanyahu's attacks, Winter continues to present Netanyahu as the undisputed leader of the right-wing bloc and intends to recommend him for prime minister. However, Netanyahu's call to Likud supporters to avoid voting for Winter appears to be having a counterproductive effect, with "Am Israel" polling above the electoral threshold in some recent surveys, potentially at the expense of the Likud and Itamar Ben-Gvir's Otzma Yehudit party.
Winter's campaign faces its own set of contradictions. While pledging not to include individuals responsible for the October 7th failures in their ranks, they simultaneously position Netanyahu as their preferred prime minister. Furthermore, their proposed "Servants Law" for conscription clashes with the reality of potentially forming a coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties like Shas and United Torah Judaism, who oppose such measures.
Netanyahu's approach reflects a belief in his ability to control or dismantle rival parties, preferring compliant partners over independent voices. The article posits that the right-wing electorate is broader than Netanyahu's loyal base and seeks a party that will challenge him from the right rather than compromise on the interests of the serving public. The "Am Israel" party's proposed coalition scenario, which involves excluding the ultra-Orthodox parties and forming a broad national government, is dismissed as an unrealistic wishful thinking that could alienate potential allies.
