Smotrich Offers Winter Key Defense Ministry Role to Quit Knesset Race

By דודי גרליץ

Translated & summarized from JDN by baba

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Hebrew · 8 newsrooms covering

Minister Bezalel Smotrich offered Brigadier General (Res.) Ofer Winter a senior Defense Ministry role and significant executive powers to withdraw his "Am Yisrael" party from the Knesset election. Smotrich warned that Winter's candidacy risks splitting right-wing votes and enabling a left-wing government, citing polls showing his party failing to pass the electoral threshold. The proposal aims to consolidate the national camp's strength for the upcoming elections.

The story in 5 lines · by baba

Minister Bezalel Smotrich offered Ofer Winter a Defense Ministry post to exit the Knesset race.
Smotrich warned Winter's candidacy could cost the right-wing bloc the election.
The offer includes significant executive powers and coordination of defense bodies.
Smotrich cited polls showing Winter's party failing to pass the electoral threshold.
The proposal aims to prevent a repeat of the 1992 election outcome.

Smotrich Offers Winter Key Defense Ministry Role to Quit Knesset Race — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Religious Zionism party leader and Minister Bezalel Smotrich has made a dramatic offer to Brigadier General (Res.) Ofer Winter, head of the "Am Yisrael" party, urging him to withdraw from the Knesset race to prevent jeopardizing the right-wing bloc's potential government.

Smotrich proposed that Winter receive significant executive powers in the next government in exchange for halting his candidacy. He praised Winter as a brave fighter and values-driven leader but warned against a repeat of the 1992 election scenario, where a split in right-wing votes led to a left-wing government and the Oslo Accords.

According to Smotrich, most polls indicate Winter's party will not pass the electoral threshold, and continuing his run would waste tens of thousands of votes for the national camp. To prevent this "waste of votes," Smotrich outlined a coalition partnership proposal.

This offer includes appointing Winter as a minister within the Defense Ministry, granting him a statutory body with a budget and staff to coordinate activities across government ministries, the IDF, COGAT, and intelligence agencies (Mossad, Shin Bet, National Security Council). Additionally, Winter would be responsible for adapting military frameworks, establishing preparatory programs and Hesder yeshivas, and developing employment support mechanisms.

Smotrich concluded by calling for national responsibility and unity to ensure a victory for the national camp in the upcoming elections.