Yair Netanyahu Warns Of Left-Wing Government If Ofer Winter Runs Separately From Smotrich

Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, issued a sharp warning to candidates of the new right-wing party 'Amcha Yisrael' led by Ofer Winter. He cautioned that if Winter's party runs independently from Bezalel Smotrich's faction, it will mathematically result in a left-wing government headed by Gadi Eizenkot, Yair Golan, and Mansour Abbas. Yair Netanyahu outlined three possible scenarios, all leading to the same outcome: either Winter's party fails to pass the electoral threshold and wastes right-wing votes, or it passes but causes Smotrich to fall below the threshold, or both parties fail to pass, all culminating in the formation of a left-wing coalition. He compared this potential outcome to how the Revival party is remembered for bringing about the Rabin government and the Oslo Accords, implying a disastrous result.

Ofer Winter announced the establishment of his new political movement, 'Amcha Yisrael,' framing the upcoming elections as a referendum on the future character of the Israeli military, emphasizing initiative, strategy, and decisive action. On the Palestinian issue and conflict with Gaza, Winter declared there will never be a Palestinian state and advocated for territorial punishment against enemies who wage war on Israel, stressing that Israeli soldiers' lives take precedence over enemy civilians. Winter concluded his speech with a prayer and introduced notable party members including Yosef Hadad, journalist Natali Shem Tov, and bereaved mother Lali Deri.

This political development highlights tensions within the Israeli right-wing camp ahead of elections, with Yair Netanyahu warning of the risks of fragmentation leading to a left-wing government coalition involving former military leaders and the Arab party led by Mansour Abbas.