Netanyahu Explains Offer to Winter to Join Likud, Cites Party's Stance
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated he had previously offered Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, a place in Likud. Netanyahu criticized Winter's party for advocating positions like a Palestinian state and an investigation into the Supreme Court president, which he believes indicates a left-wing leaning. He warned right-wing voters against a repeat of the Naftali Bennett coalition scenario from 2021, urging them to ensure their votes remain with the right.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu confirmed he offered Ofer Winter a position in the Likud party.
- Netanyahu criticized Winter's party for advocating a Palestinian state and an investigation into the Supreme Court president.
- The Prime Minister expressed concern that Winter's independent run could divert right-wing votes to the left.
- Netanyahu warned against a repeat of the Naftali Bennett coalition scenario after the 2021 elections.
- Winter's party chairman denied the claims and stated that the party's positions are not opportunistic.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu explained his criticism of Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, stating that he had previously offered Winter a position within the Likud party. Netanyahu told Channel 14 that Winter's decision to run independently, along with the positions advocated by some of his party members, raises concerns that right-wing votes could ultimately shift to the left bloc.
Netanyahu addressed claims made by Winter and his associates, including Yosef Haddad and Netali Shem Tov, that the Prime Minister had previously invited them to join Likud. "I offered Ofer Winter to be in Likud," Netanyahu confirmed, adding that he also suggested Winter join another right-wing party. He clarified that the issue is not Winter's independent candidacy itself, but rather the current stances of Winter and his party, which Netanyahu believes cast doubt on their political alignment.
Specifically, Netanyahu pointed to the party's discussion of a Palestinian state and the proposal for an investigation committee headed by Supreme Court President Yitzhak Amit as evidence of a left-wing political leaning. He also referenced Winter's perceived closeness to Avigdor Lieberman, chairman of Yisrael Beiteinu, citing an interviewer's comment about Winter's "worship of Lieberman and hatred for Netanyahu and Likud."
Netanyahu argued that if Winter had joined Likud, these doubts would have disappeared. Instead, he stated, Winter "refused to join us, refused to connect with one of the right-wing parties, went his own way, talks about an investigation committee headed by Yitzhak Amit, talks about how he can go with Eisenkot, talks about how one of his people talks about a Palestinian state, unfortunately." The Prime Minister characterized these actions as opportunistic and not genuine.
Despite his criticism, Netanyahu emphasized that his remarks were not a personal attack. He drew a parallel between Winter potentially joining a non-right-wing bloc after the elections and Naftali Bennett's post-2021 election coalition, warning right-wing voters not to fall into a similar "trap" and to avoid a "Bennett 2" scenario.
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