Netanyahu Urges Right-Wing Factions to Unite or Withdraw Ahead of Elections

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on right-wing politicians Ofer Winter, Moshe Feiglin, and Avi Maoz to either merge with established parties or withdraw from the upcoming elections. Speaking at the annual Benjamin Council event celebrating settlement achievements, Netanyahu warned that small right-wing parties risk splitting the vote and harming the right-wing bloc's chances. He emphasized, "Only the right can defeat the right," urging these factions to avoid burning votes by failing to pass the electoral threshold.

Netanyahu reiterated his stance from a recent campaign video, where he criticized small right-wing parties for potentially enabling left-wing victories, which he linked to past security failures and the rise of Palestinian entities in Gaza and the West Bank. He recalled the 1992 elections, when right-wing vote splitting led to a Labor government that brought Yasser Arafat and his associates from Tunis, resulting in ongoing security challenges. Netanyahu blamed these splits for thousands of Israeli deaths, including those in the October 7 massacre.

Meanwhile, Ofer Winter officially launched his new party "Amcha Israel," featuring spokesperson Yosef Hadad as number two on the list, who expressed ambitions to become the first Arab member of the security cabinet. The party also includes news presenter Netali Shem Tov and Leli Deri, who lost her son in the Gaza war. Winter has refused to unite with other right-wing parties or accept reserved spots on their lists, causing frustration within Netanyahu's camp. Senior right-wing officials suspect Winter aims to reorganize votes within the bloc rather than attract new voters, potentially undermining the right-wing coalition.

Netanyahu's team reportedly plans to politically sideline Winter by preventing him from passing the electoral threshold. There are also concerns Winter might eventually ally with centrist figures like Avigdor Lieberman or Naftali Bennett. Winter's party responded by stating that the political landscape has changed dramatically since October 7, and the right-wing electorate demands new leadership and fresh faces to avoid defeat. They argue that without change, figures like Benny Gantz could dominate Israel's security policy, and the right risks losing the elections.