Winter's Party Concedes Election Failure, Blames Netanyahu

Ofer Winter's "Am Israel" party is reportedly coming to terms with failing to pass the electoral threshold in the recent elections, with internal estimates suggesting they garnered just over 100,000 votes, an insufficient number to enter the Knesset. Reporter Yair Altman observed from the party's headquarters that members are acknowledging the likelihood of not making it into the 26th Knesset.

Despite the apparent failure, the party is refusing to accept responsibility, instead blaming Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's campaign tactics for their poor performance. They claim Netanyahu's recent campaign against them harmed their chances of crossing the electoral threshold. The party also asserted that if Winter had not run, Yoaz Hendel's party would have secured four seats.

Altman reported that the party believes Netanyahu's "despicable" campaign against them was a significant factor. They further contend that without this campaign, the right-wing bloc would have won definitively. The party also suggested that their failure to pass the threshold, combined with Netanyahu's campaign, may have cost the right-wing bloc votes.

Nevertheless, members of Winter's party are signaling their intention to remain in politics and compete in future elections. They drew a parallel to Itamar Ben-Gvir's past electoral struggles, noting his eventual success in entering the Knesset after multiple attempts. The party leadership stated they plan to continue their efforts to enter the Knesset, even if they miss out this time.

These are currently preliminary estimates based on exit polls, and the final results will be determined after the official vote count. The party emphasized their commitment to future electoral bids.