Smotrich Offers Winter Ministerial Post to Exit Knesset Race

Israeli Minister and Religious Zionism party chairman Bezalel Smotrich has proposed a significant political offer to Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, urging him to withdraw from the Knesset race. Smotrich announced on Wednesday that he is prepared to allocate a ministerial position within the Ministry of Defense to Winter, drawn from his party's quota in coalition negotiations. This role would grant Winter responsibility for two key areas: advancing voluntary emigration from Gaza and integrating the Haredi population into the workforce.

The proposal stems from concerns within the Religious Zionism party about vote dilution, potentially preventing them from crossing the electoral threshold. Smotrich argued that Winter's continued candidacy jeopardizes the right-wing bloc's chances and urged him to accept the offer to contribute to public service without running in the election. "I will give up a ministerial position from my party for you if you withdraw and do not endanger the right," Smotrich declared, emphasizing the need to avoid repeating the "disaster" of the 1992 elections, which he believes led to the Oslo Accords due to a split in the right-wing camp.

Smotrich highlighted that votes for parties failing to pass the electoral threshold could significantly impact the final seat allocation. He recalled offering Winter a full partnership and a respectable spot on his party's list before the candidate slates were finalized, suggesting this remains the optimal path. Citing internal polls, Smotrich indicated that "Am Israel" is unlikely to pass the electoral threshold, despite Winter's possession of other polls suggesting a different outcome. He referenced past instances, like Naftali Bennett's failure to cross the threshold in 2019 and the "Tehiya" party's 1992 run, to caution against relying solely on internal surveys.

Smotrich assured Winter that the offer was not intended to remove him from public life but to enable him to exert influence through an executive role. He pledged to use his party's political leverage post-election to secure the Ministry of Defense portfolio for Winter. The proposed responsibilities include establishing a directorate to coordinate government and security bodies on voluntary emigration from Gaza, which Smotrich deemed crucial for decisive victory in the current conflict. Additionally, Winter would oversee a directorate focused on Haredi enlistment and integration, developing military service frameworks and post-service employment pathways, drawing a parallel to the successful settlement directorate in the Ministry of Defense.

Sources from the "Am Israel" party responded dismissively, stating that their entry into politics was not for personal gain and that the public is weary of "job politics." They suggested that if they were satisfied with the right-wing bloc's existing structure, they would have joined established parties.