Party Leader Admits Endorsing Netanyahu Was a Mistake
Translated & summarized from Kikar HaShabbat by baba
Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, admitted that his initial declaration to only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister might have been a mistake. The Likud party responded, accusing Winter of potentially diverting right-wing votes to a "left-wing government." Meanwhile, Minister Bezalel Smotrich is reportedly planning to offer Winter a ministerial post to withdraw from the race. Prime Minister Netanyahu and Smotrich had previously met with Winter's mentor, Rabbi Eli Sadan, to pressure him to withdraw.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter admitted his initial endorsement of Benjamin Netanyahu might have been a mistake.
- Likud accused Winter of potentially aiding a "left-wing government" by diverting right-wing votes.
- Minister Bezalel Smotrich may offer Winter a ministerial role to exit the race.
- Netanyahu and Smotrich previously pressured Winter's mentor, Rabbi Eli Sadan, to intervene.
- Winter released an angry video denouncing perceived pressure to withdraw from the election.
Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, admitted in a Channel 12 interview on Wednesday that he may have erred in initially declaring he would only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister. "Sometimes I consider if it is right or wrong, but it is not relevant," Winter stated, adding, "I am a man of truth and in the national camp. Even if they slander us, I will not say now I will move to the other side. It could be that it was not necessarily right to say at the beginning."
The Likud party reacted sharply to Winter's statement, issuing a notice claiming he "reveals the truth" and that "Winter, like Bennett, will take right-wing votes and transfer them to a left-wing government of Eizenkot, Yair Golan, Lieberman, Bennett, and the Arab parties." Likud urged voters to "not fall for a right-wing fake, vote for Likud."
Meanwhile, according to reporter Amit Segal, Minister Bezalel Smotrich is expected to make a dramatic announcement Wednesday evening. Segal reported that Smotrich will offer Winter a ministerial position from the Religious Zionism party's quota in exchange for Winter withdrawing from the race.
Segal commented on Winter's remarks, "I don't know who gave Winter the foolish advice to say that now. It's like fulfilling all the suspicions Netanyahu is trying to pin on him, and voluntarily."
Last Tuesday, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Finance Minister Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Sadan, Winter's mentor, to persuade him to convince Winter to withdraw from the election. During the meeting, Rabbi Sadan was reportedly shown depth polls indicating Winter has no chance of passing the electoral threshold, according to reporter Amir Ettinger.
Winter responded to these efforts in an angry video yesterday, stating, "Netanyahu, I heard that you and Smotrich are on your way to Rabbi Eli Sadan to pressure me to withdraw. Guys, get it straight. The people of Israel want different politics. The people of Israel are fed up with this ugly campaign."
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