developing· Politics· Updated 21:24

Smotrich Offers Vinter Ministerial Posts to Withdraw from Elections

Religious Zionism Chairman Bezalel Smotrich is attempting to persuade Ofer Winter, the leader of the Am Israel party, to withdraw his candidacy from the upcoming Knesset elections. Smotrich is offering Winter a ministerial position, potentially within the Defense Ministry, to be filled from his party's quota. The offer aims to consolidate right-wing support and prevent the fragmentation of votes, as Winter's party risks failing to cross the electoral threshold.

3 newsrooms · 3 languages · since 16:33

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Smotrich Offers Vinter Ministerial Posts to Withdraw from Elections — Illustration by baba

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What happened

01Bezalel Smotrich offered Ofer Winter a ministerial post in exchange for withdrawing his candidacy from the Knesset elections.
02The proposed ministerial position would be allocated from the Religious Zionism party's quota in a future government.
03Smotrich aims to prevent the loss of tens of thousands of right-wing votes if Winter's party fails to cross the electoral threshold.
04The offer includes creating a new body to coordinate the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza under the Defense Ministry.
05A second proposed body would focus on the conscription and integration of ultra-Orthodox Jews into the IDF and employment.
06Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Smotrich met with Winter's spiritual mentor, Rabbi Eli Sadon, in Eli on Tuesday to exert pressure.

Under the proposed deal, Winter would not need to be a Knesset member to be appointed minister. Smotrich has reportedly promised to establish two new, independently funded administrative bodies for Winter to oversee. One body would coordinate efforts related to the voluntary departure of Palestinians from Gaza, coordinating activities of the IDF, Mossad, Shin Bet, and the Foreign Ministry. The second body would focus on integrating ultra-Orthodox Jews into the military and Israeli society.

To pressure Winter to step down, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Smotrich met on Tuesday with Winter's spiritual mentor, Rabbi Eli Sadon, in the community of Eli in Samaria. Smotrich, who previously failed to convince Winter to ally with Religious Zionism, praised him as a principled leader and a brave commander.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 22:08

Latest report: Cursorinfo. Read Cursorinfo’s original