Party Leaders Reject Offers, Remain in Knesset Race
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Ofer Winter and Moti Leitner, leaders of "Am Yisrael" and "Hachareidi" parties respectively, will not withdraw from the Knesset race despite offers from Prime Minister Netanyahu and Minister Smotrich. Smotrich offered Winter a ministerial role and authority over key projects, while Netanyahu promised Leitner a role in a Haredi sector project and significant budgets. Both leaders rejected the proposals, citing the need for genuine Haredi representation and accusing established parties of maintaining a "monopoly."
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter and Moti Leitner will not withdraw from the Knesset race.
- Minister Smotrich offered Winter a Defense Ministry role and administrative authority.
- Prime Minister Netanyahu offered Leitner a Haredi sector project role and budgets.
- Winter's party could receive millions in election funding if successful.
- Leitner accused established Haredi parties of maintaining a "monopoly."
Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Yisrael" party, and Moti Leitner, chairman of the "Hachareidi" party, announced separately on Wednesday evening that they would not withdraw from the race for the 26th Knesset. Winter presented internal polls indicating his party would surpass the electoral threshold. His decision came after Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party and Minister of Finance, offered Winter a ministerial position in the Defense Ministry and full authority to establish administrative bodies for voluntary emigration from Gaza and for recruiting and integrating Haredim, in exchange for Winter's withdrawal.
Winter rejected Smotrich's offer. His potential withdrawal also carried financial implications. Winter had reported to the State Comptroller loans totaling NIS 7.538 million, secured by bank guarantees amounting to NIS 8.475 million. If he had used a significant portion of these funds, questions arose about his ability to repay them to avoid the guarantees being called in. Conversely, if Winter's party were to win four Knesset seats, it would be eligible for approximately NIS 9.9 million in election funding, plus NIS 500,000 monthly in party funding. Even if his party did not pass the threshold but received at least 1% of the vote, it would be entitled to NIS 1.835 million from the Knesset.
Meanwhile, Leitner also announced his refusal to withdraw despite pressure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had met with Leitner, promising him a role in a project for the Haredi sector and significant budgets for the sector and Haredi employment if he formed the next government. Leitner stated that he stood as a representative for tens of thousands of Haredim who have lacked genuine representation for decades, asserting, "We are not withdrawing. The monopoly of United Torah Judaism and Shas has ended." He added that if they had withdrawn, their opponents would have rejoiced, condemning tens of thousands of Haredi children to prolonged poverty.
Leitner described his meeting with Netanyahu as a response to an invitation out of respect, but noted that leaders from United Torah Judaism and Shas, along with their envoys, had simultaneously issued threats against his party.
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