Am Israel Party Chairman Vows to Continue Election Race Amidst Pressure
Translated & summarized from Haaretz by baba
Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel party, declared he will not withdraw from the election race, accusing opponents of spending millions to crush his party. He received public backing from Rabbi Eli Sadan, who linked Netanyahu's right-wing government to Winter's party passing the electoral threshold. Winter urged supporters to vote, calling for a "protest vote" on Tuesday, while other party members also encouraged voters to overcome fears of not passing the threshold.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter vowed to continue his Am Israel party's election bid, citing a smear campaign against them.
- Winter accused opponents of spending tens of millions of shekels to prevent his party's entry into the Knesset.
- Rabbi Eli Sadan publicly supported Winter, linking Netanyahu's right-wing government to his party passing the threshold.
- Winter called for the "largest protest vote in Israel's history" on Tuesday.
- Party members urged supporters to vote from the heart, dismissing fears of failing to pass the electoral threshold.
Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel party, reiterated his commitment to running in the upcoming elections during a party event in Jerusalem. Two months after its establishment, the party held a concluding conference where Winter strongly criticized what he described as a campaign to prevent his party from entering the Knesset. He alleged that tens of millions of shekels have been invested to "crush" Am Israel, with efforts made to reach people at their homes, synagogues, and bus stops, driven by fear of new political forces.
Winter asserted that "veteran forces in the political system do not want new people in the arena" and vowed that the party would not succumb to the "ugly and violent smear campaign." The conference, held at Cinema City in Jerusalem, featured large banners with the party's slogan. Winter received public support from Rabbi Eli Sadan, head of the Eli pre-military academy, who stated that Benjamin Netanyahu would only have a right-wing government if Winter's party passes the electoral threshold.
Addressing unfavorable poll results, Winter urged undecided voters to remain confident, stating, "We are the masses," and called for "the largest protest vote in the history of Israel" to take place on Tuesday. Lili Darai, number six on the party's list and mother of a fallen soldier, also spoke, urging supporters not to fear failing to pass the electoral threshold, calling it a self-fulfilling prophecy and emphasizing that voting from the heart would lead to victory.
Yosef Haddad, presented as number two on the Am Israel list and a leading advocate, criticized rival parties for focusing on undermining his party. He called for a "large, broad right-wing camp based on common sense" and pledged to continue fighting for the country's citizens "at any cost."
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