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 pressure 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 only agreed to a brief phone call. During the 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 by saying he would prefer to receive such matters in writing, indicating he would not comply with Netanyahu's request.

Following the call, Rabbi Shmueli met with Winter, and later, his 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, also failed. Rabbi Abuchatzeira reportedly told those who approached him that Winter intended to continue his candidacy.

These efforts were part of a broader campaign, which previously included Netanyahu visiting Rabbi Eli Sadan, head of the Hesder Yeshiva in Eli, to convince him to urge his former student, Winter, to withdraw. While Rabbi Sadan initially suggested Winter should withdraw, he later released a recording expressing support for Winter's party to pass the electoral threshold, stating it was necessary for Netanyahu to form a right-wing government.

Despite the intense pressure and appeals to religious figures, Ofer Winter remained in the electoral race, leaving the success of his party in passing the electoral threshold uncertain.