Netanyahu's Efforts to Sway Ofer Winter From Election Bid Fail

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his associates made last-minute attempts to persuade Ofer Winter, chairman of the Amcha Israel party, to withdraw from the Knesset race, but these efforts were unsuccessful. Netanyahu and his team approached rabbis and figures close to Winter, urging them to convince him to drop out.

In one instance, Netanyahu personally called Rabbi Binyahu Shmueli, a respected Jerusalem rabbi and acquaintance of Winter. Rabbi Shmueli reportedly declined a meeting, stating he does not engage in politics, and received Netanyahu's concerns via a brief phone call. Netanyahu warned that Winter's candidacy could endanger the right-wing bloc and lead to "another disaster" similar to the 1992 Oslo Accords. Rabbi Shmueli responded that he would prefer to receive such matters in writing, and did not agree to pressure Winter.

Following the call, Winter visited Rabbi Shmueli, and later, the rabbi's son attended a Winter event. Associates of Rabbi Shmueli also circulated a video of him endorsing Winter. Similarly, attempts to influence Rabbi David Abuchatzeira, another prominent rabbi, to persuade Winter to withdraw also failed. Rabbi Abuchatzeira indicated that Winter intended to continue his candidacy.

These efforts followed an earlier attempt by Netanyahu to convince Rabbi Eli Sadan, head of the Eli Yeshiva, to urge his former student, Winter, to withdraw. While Rabbi Sadan initially agreed that Winter should withdraw, he later released a recording expressing support for Winter's bid to pass the electoral threshold, stating it was necessary for Netanyahu to form a right-wing government. Despite all attempts, Winter remained in the race.