Despite announcing that he would not run with sitting politicians, People of Israel party chairman Brig.-Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter still met privately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office before establishing the party to discuss joining Likud, N12 News reported on Sunday.
According to the report, Netanyahu offered Winter a reserved slot on the Likud list for the upcoming election, alongside additional reserved positions on the ruling party’s slate.
Winter apparently rejected the prime minister's offer at the meeting and launched the party, yet endorsed Netanyahu for prime minister two days later, despite saying in recent months that he intended to run independently and would not meet with sitting politicians, yet still met with Netanyahu.
His decision to reject Netanyahu’s offer later raised questions over whether he may be open to joining a different government.
Winter would later be forced to calrify his comments following pressure from Netanyahu associates and Yair Netanyahu, who claimed that Winter would recommend Lieberman for prime minister, saying, “We do not work for any person, only for the people of Israel. We will not dance to anyone’s tune.”
Merger talks heat up in both coalition, opposition blocs ahead of final party list submissions on Sept. 9
With nine days left the submit party lists on September 8th, merger talks within the coalition and opposition blocs are heating up.
N12 first reported Friday that Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Zehut party chairman Moshe Feiglin are in advanced talks of a merger which could be announced as early as Monday.
Feiglin is expected to receive the second slot on the list, along with additional positions further down the slate, according to the report.
With Ofer Winter having entered the race, current polls indicate that Smotrich's party is at risk of failing to pass the electoral threshold as an independent party, while a merger with Feiglin would allow the merged party to pass the threshold.
Merger talks are also reportedly taking place between Gilad Erdan, Benny Gantz, and Chili Tropper, who all currently sit outside the electoral threshold.
Likud voter recount dispute
N12 also reported on a dispute over the Likud primary results after a recount at polling stations in Be’er Ya’akov. The final results, which were published on Sunday, placed Eti Atiya 25th on the list and moved Minister Gila Gamliel to 35th place, which is not considered a realistic position for entering the Knesset.
Gamliel responded, saying, “We filed an appeal with the court. I will not allow Haim Katz to steal my election for Eti Atiya.”
Minister Haim Katz said in response, “Over the past week, I have gone through a barrage of lies and slander from Ms. Gamliel, her family members and associates. The only reason for the restraint I have imposed on myself is the good of Likud ahead of elections that are critical for Israel’s future.”