Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter, chairman of the People of Israel party, submitted his party’s Knesset slate on Monday ahead of the upcoming Israeli parliamentary elections, according to The Jerusalem Post. The submission officially closed the door on a potential merger with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, marking a direct challenge to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s consolidation strategy for the right-wing political bloc.
Ofer Winter Submits People of Israel Slate
Winter filed the 18-candidate list with the Central Elections Committee prior to the electoral deadline, as reported by The Jerusalem Post. Recent polls indicate the People of Israel party is hovering near Israel’s 3.25% electoral threshold, projected to win four to five seats. Because of this polling position, the top positions on the slate carry immense weight for determining who enters the Knesset.
Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad occupies the second slot on the list, according to The Jerusalem Post. Haddad built a prominent public profile advocating for Israel on social media and international speaking tours during the Israel-Hamas war. Journalist Netaeli Shem Tom takes the third spot, followed by Eran Ben-Ari in fourth, and former Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum in fifth, based on the party disclosures.
“The People of Israel party was launched only two weeks ago and has already become a significant player on the political map,” Winter said in a public statement cited by The Jerusalem Post. Winter added that his faction aims to push for ultra-Orthodox (haredi) enlistment into the Israel Defense Forces without compromise, while consistently maintaining that he will only recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for the premiership.
Smotrich and Netanyahu Face Right-Wing Splintering
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich sharply criticized the independent run, calling Winter’s decision an “irresponsible gamble” that threatens right-wing rule, according to The Jerusalem Post. Smotrich had previously urged Winter to join forces with the Religious Zionist Party and Zehut party leader Moshe Feiglin to secure parliamentary seats.
The fractured slate also deals a blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s electoral mathematics.
Netanyahu’s efforts to impose bloc discipline have met resistance elsewhere on the right as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the electoral threshold in Israel? Parties must win at least 3.25% of the national vote to enter the 120-member Knesset, a rule that eliminates small factions failing to cross this line.
- Who leads the People of Israel party? Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter serves as the chairman of the newly formed party.
- Why did the proposed merger fail? Winter declined to merge with Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, choosing instead to submit an independent candidate slate ahead of the electoral deadline.
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