Netanyahu Warns Against Voting for Small Right-Wing Parties to Avoid Splitting Votes

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu launched a strong campaign message on Monday, urging voters not to support small right-wing parties to prevent splitting the vote and enabling the left to gain power. He recalled the 1992 elections when right-wing factions broke away from Likud, leading to the left's victory and subsequent years of conflict and casualties. Netanyahu warned, "We paid with thousands of victims because of the mistake that right-wing fragments made by toppling the right-wing government." He emphasized the need to avoid repeating this error by not creating or voting for small parties that risk failing to pass the electoral threshold and thus wasting votes.

This message comes amid concerns within Netanyahu's circle about the possible political entry of retired Brigadier General Ofer Winter. Reports indicate Netanyahu fears Winter's candidacy could critically damage the right-wing bloc by siphoning votes or inadvertently strengthening a government led by Benny Gantz, alongside Naftali Bennett and Yair Golan. Netanyahu reportedly said, "I don't trust Winter. He will either burn right-wing votes or take votes from the right and give them to a government led by Eisenkot."

Winter reportedly refuses to join a party with anyone involved in the October 7 failures and also excludes former Defense Minister Amir Ohana, who was not part of that government. Winter's team denies allegations that he would support a government with Gantz. However, political analysts note Winter's past relations with figures like Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman complicate his potential impact. His entrance into politics is seen as a significant challenge for Likud, described as "a new player causing many problems."