Ofer Winter names condition for joining Israel’s next government
Ofer Winter, leader of the People of Israel party and a reserve brigadier general, said that his political force will not join the country’s next government unless a law on conscription into the Israel Defense Forces is passed before it is formed. This was reported by the Jerusalem Post.
Condition for participation in the government
According to Winter, the law must put an end to draft evasion and require all young people of conscription age to report for service and contribute to the state. He also said that no sector of society should be above the law, and that people who serve and contribute more should receive more.
The statement was made ahead of the deadline for submitting party lists for the October elections, which is set to expire next week. Winter noted that the party does not rule out alliances, but will consider merging only with “new and clean people.” According to the publication, this indicates a reluctance to merge with the current Knesset parties.
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Alliances and party priorities
On the same day, Israeli Finance Minister and leader of the far-right Religious Zionism party Bezalel Smotrich called on Winter to run together with him and Zehut party leader Moshe Feiglin. Winter had previously said that he was ready to recommend only Benjamin Netanyahu for the post of the next prime minister. He also described himself as a representative of the right-wing camp and said that he would not join opposition politicians Naftali Bennett and Avigdor Lieberman.
The party includes Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad, former Jerusalem deputy mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum, reservists, and relatives of those killed. Haddad, who is second on the list, said that the party will focus on fighting crime, including in Arab society, and strengthening Arab-Israeli identity in educational institutions. According to him, the party will also demand the restoration of the Ministry of Public Diplomacy, which the government agreed to abolish in 2023.
