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Party Leader Admits Recommending Netanyahu Was a Mistake
Ofer Winter, chairman of the Am Israel party, also referred to as Am Echad Yisrael, stated in a Channel 12 interview on Wednesday that his initial declaration to only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister might have been a mistake. Winter clarified that while he is a man of truth in the national camp and will not move to the other side despite being slandered, it might not have been right to make that commitment at the beginning of the campaign.
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What happened
- 01Am Israel party chairman Ofer Winter stated on Wednesday that his initial pledge to only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister might have been a mistake.
- 02Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Bezalel Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Dayan on Tuesday to present poll data showing Winter's party would not pass the electoral threshold.
- 03Winter previously accused Netanyahu and Smotrich of conducting an ugly and unethical campaign to pressure him into withdrawing from the election.
- 04The Likud party accused Winter of planning to transfer right-wing votes to a left-wing government, comparing him to Naftali Bennett.
- 05Bezalel Smotrich is reportedly preparing to offer Winter a cabinet position from the Religious Zionism party in exchange for his withdrawal.
- 06Winter maintained in his Channel 12 interview that he remains a man of truth within the national camp and will not switch sides.
The remarks come amid intense pressure on Winter to withdraw from the election, which is scheduled for next week. On Tuesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Religious Zionism chairman Bezalel Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Dayan, head of the Bnei David institutions in Eli, which Winter attended. During the meeting, they presented internal poll data suggesting Winter's party is unlikely to pass the electoral threshold, in an effort to have the rabbi facilitate Winter's withdrawal. Winter had previously accused Netanyahu and Smotrich of running an ugly and unethical campaign against him.
Following Winter's interview, the Likud party reacted sharply, accusing him of revealing the truth and warning that he would take right-wing votes and transfer them to a left-wing government. Meanwhile, Bezalel Smotrich is reportedly preparing to offer Winter a ministerial position from the Religious Zionism party to encourage him to withdraw from the race.
Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated
Latest report: Kikar HaShabbat. Read Kikar HaShabbat’s originalThe coverage
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- Right2
- Haredi1
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