Netanyahu Meets Rabbi Ahead of Elections to Sway Candidate
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Rabbi Eli Sadan and Bezalel Smotrich at a pre-military academy in Eli, aiming to convince Ofer Winter to withdraw from the upcoming elections. This effort comes as another candidate, Davidi Ben Zion, withdrew last week due to pressure and concerns about not passing the electoral threshold. Winter has indicated he might blame Netanyahu if his party fails to gain sufficient votes.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu met Rabbi Eli Sadan and Bezalel Smotrich to pressure Ofer Winter to withdraw from elections.
- The meeting occurred at the Bnei David pre-military academy in Eli, one week before the elections.
- Davidi Ben Zion, number 8 on Winter's list, withdrew last week citing pressure and threshold concerns.
- Ayelet Shaked advised Ben Zion that Winter's party might not pass the electoral threshold.
- Winter stated he might blame Netanyahu if his party fails to pass the electoral threshold.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Rabbi Eli Sadan at the "Bnei David" pre-military academy in Eli on Tuesday afternoon, just one week before elections. The meeting, also attended by Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, was aimed at persuading Ofer Winter to withdraw his candidacy. Netanyahu hopes Rabbi Sadan will pressure Winter, who is known to be close to the rabbi, to pull out of the Knesset race to prevent a loss of right-wing votes.
Sources at the academy stated that the meeting took place at Rabbi Sadan's home, not in the study hall, though preparations were made for Netanyahu's arrival. This development comes after Davidi Ben Zion, number 8 on Winter's list, announced his withdrawal last week. Ben Zion cited pressure from Smotrich's associates and Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, a confidant of Ben Zion's, as reasons for his decision.
Ben Zion also consulted with Ayelet Shaked, who reportedly advised him based on her experience with the New Right party in 2019, estimating that Winter's party would not pass the electoral threshold. In a social media post, Ben Zion attributed his withdrawal to the possibility of the party failing to clear the threshold, stating he would not allow votes to be lost.
Winter himself has faced criticism from Netanyahu and from leaders of the "change bloc." He previously stated at a conference that if the public does not support his party, he would accept it. However, Winter also warned that if his party fails to pass the electoral threshold, he would blame Netanyahu for undermining the right-wing bloc.
Mentioned
