Likud Launches Aggressive Campaign Against Vinter's Party

As the election period heats up, the Likud party has launched an aggressive, paid social media campaign targeting supporters of Ofer Vinter's Am Israel party. The campaign aims to prevent Vinter's party from crossing the electoral threshold, employing dozens of videos and quotes from the party's candidates, some dating back years. Likud claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not trust Vinter, fearing he might form a government with the left if Netanyahu lacks a sufficient majority. Likud also points to statements by Vinter's candidates, such as Li Deri's support for a conscription law and Yosef Haddad's past openness to working with Avi Lieberman, as reasons for concern.

The campaign highlights past statements by Yosef Haddad, including a 2019 interview where he expressed support for a two-state solution and a Palestinian state. Haddad responded by calling the video a timed and distorted campaign, explaining that his views on Palestinians changed after the 2021 "Guardian of the Walls" operation, and he now strongly opposes a Palestinian state. He asserted that his actions, not old interviews, define him.

Likud's strategy also involves leveraging the fear of a split in the right-wing vote, potentially benefiting other parties. Prime Minister Netanyahu's polls reportedly indicate that there isn't enough space on the political map for both Vinter's party and the Religious Zionism party, suggesting one will fail. Consequently, Likud has also encouraged Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to attack Vinter.

Prior to the list submission deadline, Netanyahu's office reportedly made significant efforts to dismantle Vinter's party, including attempts to recruit Haddad to Likud, which he refused. Vinter expressed pride in Haddad, emphasizing his change of views and stating his own party's commitment to preventing a Palestinian state, halting aid trucks to Gaza, and ensuring a decisive outcome in the conflict.