Ofer Winter to Appear on Channel 14 Amidst Right-Wing Political Tensions

Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party, is scheduled to appear on Channel 14's "HaPatriotim" program hosted by Yinnon Magen on Thursday evening. This interview comes at a critical juncture for Winter's newly formed party, established on August 25, as the deadline for submitting Knesset lists approaches. The appearance follows a week of political maneuvering, including a failed attempt to unite with Bezalel Smotrich and Moshe Feiglin, who had proposed a joint run and invited Winter's party to join. Winter rejected the offer, stating his intention to only ally with "new people," thus closing the door on a technical bloc with existing parties.

Winter's stance has raised concerns within the Likud party about potential vote fragmentation on the right. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu publicly questioned Winter's political direction, suggesting his party might not pass the electoral threshold. A recent poll indicated this concern might be valid, showing Smotrich and Feiglin's joint list securing five seats, while "Am Israel" garnered only 2.3% of the vote, falling short of the required threshold.

Despite the challenging poll numbers, Winter has adopted a firm position regarding coalition negotiations. He stated that he would recommend Netanyahu for prime minister but set a precedent-setting condition for joining a coalition: the passage of a mandatory conscription law requiring all young people to enlist before the government is sworn in. Winter emphasized that this is a non-negotiable demand, not a promise or a clause for later discussion.

Winter has declared that if this demand is not met, his party will remain outside the government. This ultimatum presents a complex challenge for Netanyahu, particularly concerning his negotiations with Haredi parties over ministerial portfolios. As the list submission deadline looms, Winter is expected to address these pressing questions on "HaPatriotim": whether he will run alone despite the polls, if a last-minute compromise with other right-wing parties is possible, and his course of action if Netanyahu rejects his conscription law condition.