Smotrich Offers Winter Ministerial Post to Quit Knesset Race

Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli Minister of Transportation and head of the Religious Zionism party, has proposed a significant offer to Ofer Winter, leader of the 'Am Israel' party. Smotrich is suggesting that Winter be appointed as a minister within the Ministry of Defense, with broad authority over two new directorates. One directorate would focus on voluntary emigration from Gaza, and the other on recruiting and integrating Haredim (ultra-Orthodox Jews) into the workforce. This offer is contingent on Winter withdrawing his party from the upcoming Knesset elections.

Smotrich conveyed that he would advocate for Winter's ministerial position during coalition negotiations, even if it meant fewer roles for his own Religious Zionism party. He emphasized that Winter would receive substantial resources and authority to lead these two key areas, which are central to the 'Am Israel' party's platform. In a personal appeal, Smotrich praised Winter's military service and public contributions but warned that his continued candidacy could jeopardize the right-wing bloc's chances of forming the next government.

Citing the 1992 election results, Smotrich cautioned against vote splitting among right-wing parties, which he believes led to the election of Yitzhak Rabin's government and the Oslo Accords. He argued that Winter's party is not projected to pass the electoral threshold, and continuing the race would result in tens of thousands of wasted votes, potentially determining the election's outcome. Smotrich referenced past instances, like the Tkhiya party and Naftali Bennett's 2019 run, to illustrate the potential discrepancy between internal polls and actual election results.

Smotrich assured Winter that he was not asking him to leave public life, stating that "the people of Israel need you in positions of action and influence." The proposed directorates would be established within the Ministry of Defense. The Gaza emigration directorate would coordinate efforts across multiple government bodies, including the Foreign Ministry, Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF. The Haredi recruitment and integration directorate would focus on adapting military frameworks for the Haredi community, establishing pre-military programs, and creating support mechanisms for employment.

This proposal comes amid uncertainty about the 'Am Israel' party's ability to pass the electoral threshold. Winter himself recently acknowledged that his early campaign declaration to only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for Prime Minister might have been a mistake. The situation highlights the critical question of whether Winter will accept Smotrich's offer or continue his independent run, and its potential impact on the distribution of votes within the right-wing bloc.