Ofer Winter vs Benjamin Netanyahu
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Retired brigadier general Ofer Winter refused to withdraw from his party's Knesset race despite pressure from Netanyahu.
Winter's small right-wing list risks wasting votes Netanyahu needs to block a rival-led government.
Background
Ofer Winter is chairman of People of Israel (Amcha Yisrael), a new right-wing party; he is a retired brigadier general who studied at Bnei David, the pre-military academy headed by his mentor Rabbi Eli Sadan. He entered the 2026 campaign pledging to back Netanyahu for prime minister while seeking to change policy from within the right-wing bloc. Israel's nationwide proportional system has a 3.25% electoral threshold, so votes for parties that fall short produce no seats — and the right fears Winter's list could waste votes it needs. Netanyahu has been pressing several small right-wing lists, including Winter's, to withdraw before the October 27 vote.
How it unfolded
- Oct 13, 2026Itamar Ben-Gvir announced that Otzma Yehudit would not sign a surplus-vote agreement with Winter.
- Oct 14, 2026Winter held a press conference in Tel Aviv after party candidate Davidi Ben Zion resigned, amid allegations of political pressure against the party.
- Oct 18, 2026A JNS profile described Winter as a retired brigadier general heading a new right-wing party contesting the October 27 election.
- Oct 20, 2026Netanyahu and Smotrich met with Rabbi Eli Sadan, Winter's mentor, in an attempt to pressure Winter to withdraw; Winter said publicly he had no intention of doing so.
- Oct 21, 2026Winter vowed to stay in the race. Netanyahu posted on X that Winter was not crossing the electoral threshold in any poll and urged him to withdraw.
- Oct 21, 2026N12 and Channel 13 polls put Eisenkot's Yashar first with 23 and 20 seats respectively, with Likud second at 19 in both.
- Oct 24, 2026EU Reporter described Netanyahu publicly pressing smaller right-wing parties to withdraw.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- Netanyahu says Winter promised to withdraw if he endangered the right-wing bloc, is not crossing the threshold in any poll, and should quit now to prevent a dangerous left-wing government led by Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Liberman and Bennett.
- Party
- Winter says he does not give in to pressure, that the people of Israel are fed up with an ugly and unethical campaign, and that his party will be a big surprise and go all the way.
- Support
- A Likud activist in an internal WhatsApp group argued Winter is the only one blocking an Eisenkot government and that the attack on him has failed and is hurting Likud.
- Caution
- Former People of Israel candidate Davidi Ben Zion said that with two weeks left the risk of failure seemed high and he would not let the votes of those who believed in the path slip away.
Still unverified
Ynet reported that Netanyahu and Smotrich hoped Rabbi Eli Sadan could convince Winter to withdraw; party members alleged they faced threats and harassment aimed at persuading them to leave the party. Surveys placed Amcha Yisrael on both sides of the threshold — Channel 12 and i24NEWS projected four seats while other surveys put it below.