Ofer Winter in talks to merge with an existing party
The chairman of Amach Yisrael, who is under heavy pressure in the right-wing bloc, is holding talks with Yaron Zelekha's Economic Party. No responses were received from the parties.
The Amach Yisrael party of Ofer Winter and the Economic Party of Yaron Zelekha are holding talks regarding a possible merger. This was learned by "Hayom". Furthermore, Winter announced a short time ago that he will make a statement this evening at the Bloomfield Stadium. Media outlets were invited to the location, from which broadcasts and reports will be possible.
Winter, who in some polls is struggling to pass the electoral threshold, is under heavy pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and partners in the right-wing bloc to unite. However, Winter himself is not interested in joining incumbent politicians.
On Sunday, it was published in "Hayom" that Zelekha's associates denied that actual negotiations were taking place with other parties. In that same publication, it was even claimed that Zelekha had tried for about a month to contact Winter through calls, messages, and messengers, but according to them, Winter did not respond to him.
In addition to this, in recent days, efforts have increased in the right-wing bloc to prevent the loss of votes from parties that will not pass the electoral threshold. Yesterday, the chairman of Religious Zionism, Bezalel Smotrich, and the chairman of Zehut, Moshe Feiglin, signed an agreement to run together, following negotiations intended, among other things, to ensure the passing of the electoral threshold. The two marked Winter as the next target for a connection, however, the chairman of "Amach Yisrael" opposes for the time being joining incumbent politicians.
The pressure on Winter also comes from the direction of Netanyahu, who fears a split of votes on the right. In "Israel Hayom" it was reported that the Prime Minister is working to arrange the parties to the right of the Likud, against the background of past experience where separate running of small parties left at least one of them below the electoral threshold. Among other things, possibilities for connections between Smotrich, Feiglin, and other players were mentioned, while Winter continues to insist on a run that does not include incumbent politicians. The parties' responses will be brought when they are received.
