Netanyahu's Bid to Oust Vinter Fails as Rabbis Refuse to Intervene
Translated & summarized from N12 by baba
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to convince Ofer Vinter to withdraw from the elections have failed, as two rabbis he consulted refused to intervene. Netanyahu's associates approached Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli, who stated he does not engage in politics. A prior attempt to pressure Rabbi Eli Sadan also proved unsuccessful. The Am Ech Yisrael party stated they are resisting Netanyahu's pressure campaigns.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to force Ofer Vinter out of elections have failed.
- Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli refused to pressure Vinter, citing non-involvement in politics.
- Rabbi Eli Sadan also declined to intervene despite pressure from Netanyahu.
- Am Ech Yisrael party stated they are resisting Netanyahu's "pressure campaign."
- Internal polls may have prompted Netanyahu's concern about Vinter passing the threshold.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's latest attempt to persuade Ofer Vinter, chairman of the Am Ech Yisrael party, to withdraw from the upcoming elections has been unsuccessful. Netanyahu's associates approached Rabbi Bneiahu Shmueli, a senior rabbi whom Vinter consults, in an effort to have him pressure Vinter to resign his candidacy. Rabbi Shmueli politely declined, stating, "I do not deal with politics" and "I will not tell him to withdraw."
This follows a previous failed attempt by Netanyahu to convince Rabbi Eli Sadan, Vinter's former mentor and head of the Eli pre-military academy, to intervene. Despite significant pressure from the Prime Minister, Rabbi Sadan also did not yield.
The Am Ech Yisrael party stated that they have endured "every possible pressure campaign" from Netanyahu and will not blindly agree with him, unlike other political figures such as Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir, suggesting this is a point of contention.
Sources close to Netanyahu and Smotrich indicated that the meeting with Rabbi Sadan was also prompted by internal polls suggesting Vinter might not pass the electoral threshold. The party leadership is concerned about Vinter's electoral viability.
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