Journalist Nettaali Shem Tov Expected to Join Ofer Winter’s New Party Ahead of 2026 Elections

Journalist and news anchor Nettaali Shem Tov is anticipated to join the new political party being launched by Ofer Winter on Tuesday, according to political sources. Shem Tov had previously received offers from the Likud party and Gilad Erdan before he announced the formation of his new party alongside Yuli Edelstein. Currently on vacation, Shem Tov has not yet responded to inquiries.

Winter’s party, which will be officially unveiled this week, is expected to include spokesperson Yosef Hadad as the second-in-command and Leli Deri, a member of the Religious Zionism faction who lost her son Saadia Deri in the Gaza war. Deri previously ran in the Likud primaries. This new party joins other emerging groups ahead of the 2026 elections, such as those led by Erdan, Hili Tropper, and Yoaz Hendel.

Winter is actively promoting his party through social media and private meetings, signaling a preference for a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu. He has declined to merge with Bezalel Smotrich or Itamar Ben-Gvir and refused a reserved spot on the Likud list, stating that forming a new party is the only way to reclaim right-wing voters disillusioned with the current coalition.

Amid difficulties in reuniting Smotrich and Ben-Gvir, Netanyahu’s camp fears Winter’s party could jeopardize the Religious Zionism bloc’s chances of passing the electoral threshold. With three weeks left before candidate lists close, Netanyahu is expected to start consolidating his bloc but faces challenges managing several small parties, including those of Avi Maoz and Moshe Feiglin, to avoid vote fragmentation.

Similarly, the opposition’s center parties, including Tropper and Hendel’s faction, face risks of failing to cross the threshold due to competition from Erdan, Benny Gantz, and Dedi Simchi, who are negotiating with Ayelet Shaked. Both Netanyahu and Benny Gantz recognize that organizing their blocs effectively is crucial to prevent losing votes below the threshold. Winter’s team responded to inquiries with a call for "patience."