Likud Launches Campaign Against Amcha Yisrael Party Leader Ofer Winter
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Likud launched a social media campaign against Ofer Winter's Amcha Yisrael party.
- The campaign aims to prevent Amcha Yisrael from crossing the electoral threshold.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly distrusts Ofer Winter.
- Concerns exist about Amcha Yisrael potentially joining the opposition or impacting other right-wing parties.
- Yosef Haddad, an Amcha Yisrael candidate, defended his past statements on a Palestinian state.
Following Israel's autumn holidays, the political campaign has intensified, with parties issuing sharper statements. On Sunday, October 4, the Likud party launched a social media campaign targeting Ofer Winter, leader of the Amcha Yisrael party, aiming to prevent his party from crossing the electoral threshold. The campaign includes videos, texts, and quotes from Winter and his party's candidates.
Sources within Likud stated that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu distrusts Winter, citing concerns about potential alliances beyond Netanyahu. They pointed to Amcha Yisrael candidate Lali Deri's remarks on a conscription law and another candidate, Yosef Haddad's, past support for a Palestinian state and his perceived positive view of Liberman. Likud is reportedly selecting quotes to discredit the Amcha Yisrael list, particularly highlighting Haddad's past support for a Palestinian state, which they claim could lead to a "left-wing government."
Likud released a video of Haddad supporting a Palestinian state, claiming it was filmed during the "Guardian of the Walls" operation and subsequent riots. Haddad clarified that the video was taken five and a half years prior, before the operation, and that his views on the Palestinian issue changed after witnessing violence. He stated his opposition to a Palestinian state and warned against falling for propaganda.
The extensive campaign against Winter, a retired brigadier general and former commander, is reportedly driven by fears that his party could join the opposition if Netanyahu lacks sufficient mandates for a coalition. There is also concern that Amcha Yisrael's rise could draw votes away from the Religious Zionism party, potentially causing it to fall below the electoral threshold. Netanyahu had previously attempted to recruit Haddad to Likud with a reserved spot on their list, an offer Haddad refused.
Ofer Winter responded to Likud's campaign, expressing pride in Yosef Haddad and reiterating his party's platform, which includes opposing a Palestinian state, preventing aid to Gaza, achieving victory over enemies, and facilitating voluntary Palestinian emigration.
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