Even after Blue and White chairman Benny Gantz dropped out of the race, leaders of small right-wing parties are refusing to take responsibility for the danger of wasted votes—and are declaring they’ll run until the end. The stubbornness is raising serious concerns in the right-wing bloc about losing precious votes to parties not expected to cross the electoral threshold.
Photo: Jonathan Zindel, Flash 90
1+Ofer Winter, chairman of the Amcha Yisrael party, made clear Monday evening that he has no intention of withdrawing from the race. “We’re running until the end. Don’t be afraid, don’t fall for the despicable campaign,” Winter said, calling on his supporters: “Come with us. Only a strong Amcha Yisrael will prevent an Abbas-Golan government.”
During his remarks, Winter attacked Minister Shlomo Karhi, who he said called him “Palestine.” “To the commander of the Givati Brigade, a fighter in the Israel Defense Forces—’Palestine.’ Karhi, who gave you the right to hand out grades in love of the land?” he asked. He went on to criticize the coalition leadership: “In the TikTok coalition, Hamas has already been defeated, but our children don’t live in a video—they live in reality.”
1+Meanwhile, Noam party chairman Avi Maoz also announced in an interview with Kan 11 that he won’t drop out of the race. “I’m running until the end,” he declared. Shortly after, he was joined by Moti Leitner, chairman of the Haredi Public party, who announced his party will continue running until election day—intensifying fears of significant vote loss for the right.