Netanyahu Meets Haredi Leader to Urge Election Withdrawal
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, to urge his withdrawal from the Knesset race, aiming to consolidate right-wing votes. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to persuade Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, to also withdraw, with internal polls presented to his rabbinical mentors showing risks to the right-wing bloc. Winter has publicly rejected calls for his withdrawal, leading to criticism from the Finance Minister.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Prime Minister Netanyahu met with Haredi Public Party chairman Moti Leitner to discuss his withdrawal from the election.
- The meeting aimed to prevent vote loss for the right-wing bloc if Leitner's party fails to pass the electoral threshold.
- Leitner was reportedly offered incentives including a joint press conference and future political influence.
- Efforts are also underway to convince Ofer Winter of the Am Israel Party to withdraw his candidacy.
- Winter has rejected calls for his withdrawal, criticizing Netanyahu and Smotrich.
- Internal polls were presented to Winter's rabbinical mentors, indicating risks to the right-wing bloc.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met late Tuesday with Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public Party, at the Likud headquarters in an effort to persuade him to withdraw his candidacy from the upcoming Knesset elections. The primary goal of this meeting was to prevent the "burning" of votes that could be lost to the right-wing bloc if Leitner's party fails to pass the electoral threshold.
Intense negotiations preceded the meeting, involving Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism Party, and Leitner over the past week. Sources close to the matter revealed that Leitner was offered several incentives to withdraw, including a joint press conference with Netanyahu, a written agreement to safeguard his party's future political influence, and an appointment as a project manager for Haredi public affairs.
Concurrently, efforts are underway within the right-wing camp to convince Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, to also withdraw. Netanyahu and Smotrich met with Winter's rabbinical mentors, including Rabbi Yigal Levinstein and Rabbi Yehuda Sadan, at the Eli pre-military academy. During this meeting, internal polls were presented, highlighting a significant risk of vote loss for the right-wing bloc.
Netanyahu and Smotrich reportedly presented data during the meeting with the rabbis, expressing deep concern that increased Arab voter turnout could raise the electoral threshold. They also argued that Benny Gantz's departure from the political scene had strengthened the left-wing bloc, while a proliferation of right-wing parties could jeopardize the bloc's chances of securing a Knesset majority.
Winter, however, reacted sharply to the meeting, criticizing Netanyahu and Smotrich and stating his firm intention not to withdraw his candidacy. In response, the Finance Minister expressed regret over the situation, lamenting Winter's refusal to meet, talk, or consult, and emphasizing their shared goal for Israel's well-being and the victory of the national camp.
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