Netanyahu Intensifies Campaign Against Challenger Ahead of Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly decided to escalate his campaign against Ofer Winter, the head of the 'Amcha Israel' party, aiming to push Winter's party below the electoral threshold and encourage him to withdraw. This strategy is part of Netanyahu's bloc's critical decision-making, which is expected 11 days before the upcoming elections, the last opportunity to sign surplus vote agreements. It remains unclear if other parties will sign such agreements with Netanyahu's bloc, as the Likud and Religious Zionism parties have not yet finalized their own pacts.

Winter, a retired Brigadier General, has been critical of Netanyahu, stating in a Channel 12 interview that the Prime Minister is "in a misconception" and that decision-makers are "suckers" for accepting it. Despite his criticism, Winter indicated he would still recommend Netanyahu for Prime Minister, explaining that he is committed to the right-wing and that the public, not him, chooses the leader in a democracy. When questioned by Dana Weiss about whether he could still voice these criticisms after the October 7th events, Winter responded that while he has criticisms of Netanyahu's conduct regarding October 7th and other matters, this does not mean there is a better alternative available, emphasizing his rational approach to choosing between options.