Ofer Winter Vows to Continue After Election Failure
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, vowed to continue his political efforts after exit polls showed his party failing to pass the electoral threshold. Winter claimed his party drew votes from opposition supporters and non-voters, not from the right-wing bloc. Party sources countered that Winter's withdrawal would have strengthened the left, and that his participation did not cost the right-wing bloc mandates. Winter drew on past military experiences to express his resolve to continue fighting.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Ofer Winter vowed to continue his political path after his party failed to pass the electoral threshold.
- Winter claimed his party's votes came from opposition supporters and undecided voters.
- Party sources suggested Winter's withdrawal would have benefited the left-wing bloc.
- Am Israel Party claimed Winter's participation did not cost the right-wing bloc mandates.
- Winter drew on shared military experiences to express his determination to persevere.
Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel Party, addressed his activists Tuesday night after election exit polls indicated his party would not pass the electoral threshold for the 26th Knesset. Winter declared his commitment to continuing his political path and rejected criticism that his party's participation harmed the right-wing bloc's chances. He asserted that his party's votes came from opposition parties or from individuals who were not planning to vote, stating, "We burned votes from opposition parties or from those who didn't want to vote at all."
Sources within the Am Israel Party countered the criticism, suggesting that Winter's withdrawal from the race would have benefited the left. They claimed that if Winter had not run, the National Liberal Party, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zehlik, would have passed the threshold and gained four additional mandates for the left-wing bloc. The party also argued that most of their voters did not come from the current coalition's supporters, thus invalidating accusations of lost right-wing votes.
Winter thanked the activists, logistics staff, and campaign members for their efforts. He also shared personal reflections, mentioning his long-time associate and the difficult experiences they shared during their military service, which he cited as a source of determination to persevere despite setbacks. He concluded by referencing their shared combat experiences, emphasizing resilience and a commitment to continuing the fight, quoting, "The people of Israel are not afraid of a long road."
The party's performance was assessed based on exit poll data, with the final vote count still ongoing.
