Netanyahu Pursues Winter Due to Fear of Right-Wing Pressure, Not Vote Spoilage, Analyst Claims
Translated & summarized from Srugim by baba
i24 correspondent Eliraz Sade claims Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pressuring Ofer Winter to prevent post-election right-wing backlash, not due to vote spoilage fears. Winter announced he is staying in politics, seeking to offer a right-wing alternative and rejecting collaboration with left-wing factions. He outlined conditions for supporting a government, including legislation for soldiers and a policy on Gaza. Winter also criticized Bezalel Smotrich's alleged job offers, stating his movement seeks change, not personal gain.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Eliraz Sade alleges Netanyahu is pressuring Ofer Winter to avoid post-election right-wing pressure.
- Ofer Winter declared he will not withdraw from politics despite significant pressure.
- Winter seeks to offer a leadership alternative for a large right-wing public.
- Winter rejected forming a government with Yair Golan and stated conditions for support.
- Winter criticized Bezalel Smotrich's past job offer as a "lie" and stated his movement seeks change.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is pursuing Ofer Winter not out of concern for vote spoilage, but rather to prevent additional pressure from the right wing after the elections, according to i24 correspondent Eliraz Sade. Sade stated that Netanyahu "does not want more pressure from the right on the day after the elections and not out of concern for vote spoilage."
Winter announced on Thursday that he would not withdraw from the political arena despite significant pressure. He asserted that his movement entered politics to offer a leadership alternative for a "huge right-wing public" unwilling to accept limited options. Winter criticized parties that call themselves right-wing but boycott the right, and the outgoing coalition parties for succumbing to "deal-making and cronyism" that harm the public.
Winter rejected claims that he would join a left-wing government with Izankot, stating, "From day one, I said we are in the right-wing camp. I have not changed my positions in my 34 years of service in the IDF and have no intention of changing them today." He emphasized that while he has been personally harmed, he has no alternative path. Winter clarified his stance, stating, "There will be no open check here. I said yes and I said but. If they give, they will receive; if they don't give, they won't receive." He specified that a law recognizing the status of soldiers and prioritizing fighters would be a condition for receiving support, as would leading to a decision and voluntary migration from Gaza. "We are people of truth. We will not take our votes and form a government with Yair Golan, that will never happen," he declared.
Winter further stated that when his movement is strong, a government led by Golan or Abbas would not be possible, nor would a Netanyahu government dependent on Goldknopf and other operatives. "When we are strong, this is the only chance to establish a broad right-wing government here, a serving right-wing, a right-wing that defeats its enemies and not its brothers," he added.
He also addressed Bezalel Smotrich, calling a past claim that Smotrich offered him the top spot in his party a "lie." Winter stated that Smotrich offered him another role in a government not yet formed, but insisted, "Friends, you are mistaken. We did not come for a job, as you are accustomed to. We came to change. We came to lead a path. We came to serve those who serve and not to enable the continuation of cronyism and the division of roles."
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