Retired General Ofer Winter Cancels TV Appearance Ahead of Elections
Translated & summarized from Ice by baba
Retired Major General Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Amcha Israel" party, canceled his appearance on Channel 14's "The Patriots" program just before the broadcast, three days before the 26th Knesset elections. The channel suggested the cancellation was due to calls for right-wing parties to merge to prevent vote wastage. Panelists on the show questioned Winter's motives, with one suggesting it might indicate a leftward lean. Winter, a former Givati Brigade commander, founded his party in August 2026 with a right-wing national-security platform.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter canceled his "The Patriots" TV appearance days before the 26th Knesset elections.
- Channel 14 cited calls for right-wing parties to merge to prevent vote wastage.
- Show panelists questioned Winter's last-minute cancellation and political leanings.
- Winter leads the "Amcha Israel" party, founded in August 2026.
- He is a retired IDF Brigadier General known for his role in Operation Protective Edge.
Three days before the 26th Knesset elections, retired Major General Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Amcha Israel" party, announced Saturday night the cancellation of his appearance on the Channel 14 television program "The Patriots." Winter was scheduled to join other right-wing party leaders in the studio. The announcement came shortly before the broadcast, which took place on Saturday evening before the polls opened.
Channel 14 reported that Winter's party had not yet issued an official statement regarding the cancellation. Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the "HaMiluimnikim" party, is expected to appear on the program. Hendel has joined forces with Professor Yaron Zelekha, chairman of the Economic Party, to try and pass the electoral threshold. Hendel is anticipated to present his views on political, security, and social issues in the final stretch of the election campaign.
Channel 14 stated that Winter's cancellation was due to calls within the right-wing bloc for smaller parties to withdraw from the race to prevent vote wastage. Yaki Adamker, a panelist on "The Patriots," reacted to the cancellation, questioning if Winter's last-minute withdrawal indicated he was also leaning left. Host Yinon Magal echoed these sentiments, suggesting that if Winter wasn't withdrawing from the race, it was better he appeared on Channel 12 to attract votes from there.
Adamker further commented that Winter had previously promised to withdraw from the race during his appearances on the show but did not. He also noted Winter's recent statements recommending Netanyahu, suggesting he might have acted differently. Adamker urged viewers to vote wisely to avoid future regrets.
Ofer Winter is a retired Brigadier General in the IDF, known for commanding the Givati Brigade during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. He has become a prominent public and political figure in recent years. In August 2026, Winter founded the "Amcha Israel" party for the 26th Knesset elections, advocating for a right-wing national-security platform and addressing issues such as the conscription of ultra-Orthodox men, national security, and crime fighting.
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