Ben-Gvir Rules Out Surplus Vote Deal With Winter's Party
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir declared that his Otzma Yehudit party will not sign a surplus vote agreement with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party. Ben-Gvir likened Winter to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, stating "Winter is Bennett 2." This decision leaves Otzma Yehudit without a partner for such an agreement after Likud and Religious Zionism already signed theirs. The absence of a deal could impact the parties' ability to maximize their Knesset seats.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir will not sign a surplus vote agreement with Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party.
- Ben-Gvir stated his reason was that "Winter is Bennett 2."
- Otzma Yehudit was left without a surplus vote partner after Likud and Religious Zionism signed their deal.
- The decision means the parties may lose potential gains from mandate distribution.
- The final seat count will depend on individual party votes and other election results.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir announced Tuesday that his party, Otzma Yehudit, will not sign a surplus vote agreement with the "Am Israel" party led by Ofer Winter. Ben-Gvir explained his decision by stating, "Winter is Bennett 2," implying a comparison to former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, whom Ben-Gvir has previously criticized.
The decision comes after the Likud and Religious Zionism parties signed their own surplus vote agreement last week, leaving Otzma Yehudit without a partner. This situation had raised the possibility that Ben-Gvir might align with Winter's party, but this option has now been definitively rejected.
Without a surplus vote agreement, both Otzma Yehudit and "Am Israel" risk forfeiting the ability to increase their combined electoral strength through the mandate distribution mechanism. However, the ultimate impact on their seat count will depend on the total votes each party receives and the performance of other parties in the election.
