Netanyahu Orders Likud to Continue Attacks on Ofer Vinter Amid Internal Debate

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other coalition party leaders are maintaining a strong offensive against Ofer Vinter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, despite appeals from Vinter's campaign to cease the attacks. A senior Likud official told Channel 14 that Vinter's campaign had reached out to the party requesting an end to the criticism.

However, the Likud has issued a clear directive to continue the aggressive stance against Vinter, emphasizing the need to prevent any "waste of precious votes" within the right-wing bloc. This decision was reportedly made after a meeting in the Prime Minister's office, where Vinter was described as a "tangible danger" to the bloc. Netanyahu allegedly stated in a meeting with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir that Vinter's candidacy is intended solely to "burn votes" and could potentially shift votes to the left, even leading to the election of Avigdor Lieberman.

Sources within Vinter's party claim that most of their support comes from centrist and soft-right voters, not at the expense of coalition parties. Despite these claims, the Likud's instruction is to maintain high alert and continue the attacks without pause. The party's leadership is concerned that Vinter might eventually ally with figures like Lieberman or Naftali Bennett, further destabilizing the right-wing bloc.

Some Likud ministers, including Shlomo Karhi and Ze'ev Elkin, have expressed concerns about Vinter's potential impact, with Karhi referring to him as "Kaplan's hope" and warning of potential shifts to the left or vote loss if he fails to pass the electoral threshold. Elkin also raised concerns about potential connections to Lieberman.

Vinter himself has strongly criticized the attacks, comparing the rhetoric from Likud members to that used against Hamas leader Sinwar or Hezbollah leader Nasrallah. He accused Netanyahu's advisors of providing poor counsel and being disconnected from the reality of the right-wing camp, relying on biased polls. Vinter also stated that he does not view Avigdor Lieberman as a solution for the right-wing camp, questioning his ability to lead given his association with figures like Yair Golan.

The Likud responded to Vinter's accusations by calling them a "complete lie" and threatening defamation lawsuits. While there were considerations within the Prime Minister's circle about a potential "ceasefire" to facilitate vote-sharing agreements with the Otzma Yehudit party, Netanyahu has so far opposed such a move.