Party Official Explains Withdrawal Amidst Campaign Pressure
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Dovide Ben Zion, Deputy Head of the Samaria Regional Council, withdrew from the "Am Israel" party, citing an underestimation of anti-party campaigns and personal pressures. His departure follows intense pressure on the party to withdraw from the election race to avoid splitting right-wing votes. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich met with the party's rabbi to push for withdrawal, but party leader Ofer Winter reacted angrily to the perceived pressure.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Dovide Ben Zion withdrew from the "Am Israel" party due to campaign pressures and misjudged electoral chances.
- Intense pressure is being applied to the "Am Israel" party to withdraw from the election race.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Sadan to pressure Ofer Winter.
- Ofer Winter reacted angrily to perceived pressure from Netanyahu and Smotrich to withdraw his party.
- Recent polls indicate the "Am Israel" party is unlikely to pass the electoral threshold.
Dovide Ben Zion, Deputy Head of the Samaria Regional Council, announced his withdrawal from the "Am Israel" party, explaining his decision in a Tuesday interview. Ben Zion admitted he misjudged the party's chances of passing the electoral threshold, stating, "I assumed we would easily be in a much higher place, because I probably did not estimate the campaign that was waged against us." He decided to leave after realizing he could not uphold his values within the party's current framework.
Ben Zion also spoke about the personal toll the political campaign had taken on him and his family. He acknowledged that public figures entering politics must anticipate such pressures, comparing it to getting caught in the rain without an umbrella. He specifically mentioned that his wife faced discomfort at her workplace due to the political storm surrounding him.
The withdrawal comes amid significant pressure on the "Am Israel" party to drop out of the race to avoid "wasting" votes that could benefit the right-wing bloc. This pressure intensified after Benny Gantz announced his own withdrawal from the Knesset race. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly urged Winter to withdraw, warning that the party's continued participation, with no certainty of passing the electoral threshold, could lead to a left-wing government.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Sadan, a prominent rabbi and mentor to Winter, to pressure the party leader to withdraw. During the meeting, depth polls were presented to Rabbi Sadan, indicating Winter's party had no chance of passing the electoral threshold. Winter reacted angrily to the meeting, stating, "Netanyahu, I heard you and Smotrich are on your way to Rabbi Eli Sadan to pressure me to withdraw. Guys, get it straight. Am Israel wants different politics. Am Israel is fed up with this ugly campaign."
Recent polls have shown the "Am Israel" party failing to pass the electoral threshold. One poll by i24NEWS placed the party at a low of 2.9% of voter support, while another by Kan News did not show the party appearing on the distribution map at all.
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