Winter's Gamble May Cost Right-Wing Bloc Votes
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
Ofer Winter's new party, Amcha Israel, is running in the upcoming elections despite polls suggesting it won't pass the electoral threshold. Analysts believe Winter's independent run is a gamble that could cost the right-wing bloc votes and potentially weaken their ability to prevent a Palestinian state. Another small party, Noam, is also running despite similar low poll numbers, driven by ideological reasons.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter's new party, Amcha Israel, is running in the elections despite poor poll numbers.
- Winter's decision to run independently may cost the right-wing bloc significant votes.
- Analysts suggest Winter's party is ideologically redundant with Smotrich's Religious Zionism.
- Winter's insistence on running alone may stem from an overestimation of his personal appeal.
- The small party Noam is also running despite being far from the electoral threshold.
- Winter's gamble is seen as relying on a miracle, potentially weakening the right-wing bloc.
Political commentators and most pollsters anticipate a surprise in the upcoming elections on October 27th, potentially a significant showing by Ofer Winter's new party, Amcha Israel. Winter, who has pledged to run "until the end" despite polls indicating he may not pass the electoral threshold, is seen as taking a bold, possibly unnecessary, gamble. His decision to run independently, after previously stating he would not sit under leaders like Lieberman, Eizenkot, or Bennet, and would only serve under Netanyahu, narrows the ideological gap with parties like Smotrich's Religious Zionism.
Winter and Smotrich share similar views on religious and national issues, including opposition to mandatory conscription for Haredim and a preference for differential reward systems for service. They also appear to agree on the nature of an inquiry committee for the failures of October 7th. The primary stated difference is Winter's demand to remove all politicians active before the war, including Smotrich, though Winter's willingness to join a future Netanyahu government makes this demand seem hollow.
Smotrich reportedly offered Winter the top spot on a joint list, a proposal Winter did not deny. His insistence on running alone suggests an overestimation of his personal appeal, as analysts believe his party is redundant. The article suggests that both Winter and Smotrich might end up in the opposition, and Winter's reliance on a "miracle" could weaken the right-wing bloc, potentially hindering their ability to prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state.
Meanwhile, the small party Noam, led by Rabbi Tav, is also running despite polls showing it far from the electoral threshold. Its continued participation is attributed to a desire to present an "ideal" religious party model, detached from broader societal partnerships. While such parties typically garner few votes, Noam may benefit from the large educational network associated with Rabbi Tav, potentially leading many to vote for it out of a sense of moral obligation, even if it means wasting votes.
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