In Israel, Knesset Speaker Ohana urges Winter to withdraw from election
In Israel, Knesset Speaker and Likud member Amir Ohana called on Ofer Winter, head of the People of Israel party, to stop running independently in the upcoming election. In Ohana’s view, this political force could harm the right-wing bloc because of the risk of failing to cross the electoral threshold, the Jerusalem Post reports.
Risk for the right-wing bloc
In an interview with radio station 103FM, Ohana said that the greatest danger to the right is not the left-wing forces, but the fragmentation of votes within the right-wing camp itself. He recalled the 1992 election, when, according to him, the left was able to form a government even though the right received more votes.
Ohana expressed concern that Winter’s party would not cross the electoral threshold and that votes cast for it would not affect the distribution of seats. As an example, he mentioned Ayelet Shaked and Naftali Bennett, who, according to him, also failed to cross the electoral threshold. The Knesset speaker added that he had previously called on Winter to unite, but the deadline set for this had already passed.
Ohana said that Winter should withdraw from the election if he wants Benjamin Netanyahu to remain prime minister.
More current news is available on the UA.News Telegram channel Telegram.
Winter’s response and polls
In response, Ofer Winter said that Likud had been unable to reserve places on its list for representatives of the People of Israel party. He also claimed that criticism would only strengthen his political force.
The People of Israel party said it seeks a renewal of government and the involvement of new politicians who were not part of the events that, according to the party, led to October 7. Its priorities include achieving a decisive result in Gaza, integrating ultra-Orthodox Jews into the Israel Defense Forces, and supporting reservists.
Ohana also dismissed concerns about polls in which the Yashar party, led by Gadi Eisenkot, was ahead of Likud by about four seats. He said that opinion polls had previously failed to predict a Likud victory, recalling the 2015 election, when the party won 30 Knesset seats despite lower polling figures.
