Rabbis and Likud Press Ofer Winter to Join Forces with Bezalel Smotrich
Dozens of prominent religious Zionist rabbis and Likud officials have urged retired IDF General Ofer Winter to unite with Bezalel Smotrich, warning that an independent run risks wasting right-wing votes.
Pressure Mounts on Ofer Winter
Significant political and spiritual pressure is being directed at retired IDF Brigadier General Ofer Winter as the deadline for submitting party lists for the upcoming Knesset elections approaches. On Monday, dozens of prominent rabbis from the Religious Zionism movement published an open letter calling on Winter to act responsibly and unite with existing right-wing factions.
In their public appeal, the rabbis emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming days:
"This week will determine whether the right wing will enter the upcoming elections united or, Heaven forbid, divided. We call on Ofer Winter to take responsibility and act immediately to continue the vital efforts of Bezalel Smotrich, chairman of the Religious Zionism party, toward unity in the right-wing camp."
The letter warned of the potential consequences of running independently, stating: "Unity is always beneficial, especially when great dangers face the people of Israel. Ofer, certain is always preferable to uncertain. We must not take risks when it concerns the entirety of Israel."
Prominent Spiritual Leaders Sign Petition
The signatories of the letter include several highly influential figures within the national-religious community:
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Rabbi Eitan Eisman, head of the Tzvia educational institutions;
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Rabbi David Chai HaKohen, head of the Orot HaTorah Yeshiva in Bat Yam;
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Rabbi Elyakim Levanon, regional rabbi of Samaria and president of the Elon Moreh institutions;
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Rabbi Shabtai Sabato, head of the Mitzpe Jericho Yeshiva.
This appeal follows similar warnings from Rabbi Yigal Levinstein, co-founder of the Bnei David military academy where Winter studied, who also urged him not to take unnecessary electoral risks.
Likud Threatens Aggressive Campaign
In addition to spiritual leaders, senior political figures are warning Winter against a separate run. Knesset Member Avihai Boaron, head of Likud's field operations, issued a blunt warning during an interview on the Kol BaRama radio station:
"Winter is wasting right-wing votes. He will not pass the electoral threshold, and because of him, the right wing will lose power. If he submits his list independently, we will actively explain the danger to the public and collapse his campaign to prevent the loss of right-wing seats."
The official registration of party lists for the 26th Knesset is scheduled to close later this week.
