Amcha Yisrael Chairman Ofer Winter addressed his party’s defeat on Wednesday for the first time since polls closed, taking full personal responsibility after the newly launched right-wing slate failed to clear the statutory 3.25% electoral threshold required for representation in the 26th Knesset.
“I understand the disappointment. The responsibility is mine,” Winter said in his statement, reflecting on the outcome of the campaign. “I tried to bring hope and an opportunity to establish a broad right-wing government; unfortunately, I did not succeed in saving the right-wing government.” Looking toward the future, the retired IDF brigadier general added: “Time will tell. We will learn from what happened and continue on the path to bring a different leadership to the people of Israel.”
Winter’s comments followed an apology issued earlier in the day by high-profile candidate Netali Shem Tov, who likewise accepted accountability for the tactical miscalculation that led to tens of thousands of ballots falling below the cutoff rather than bolstering the national camp. Shem Tov said, “When you fail, you take responsibility,” expressing regret over the missed objective while thanking soldiers, campaign activists, and Winter himself. She concurrently urged the heads of national-camp parties to assemble without delay to form an incoming government.
According to verified ballot counts released by the Central Elections Committee, with roughly 86.8% of standard polling stations tallied nationwide, Amcha Yisrael secured 78,377 votes, equivalent to 1.61% of all valid ballots cast.
Under Israel’s nationwide proportional representation system, entering the Knesset requires crossing the 3.25% threshold, which in this election cycle translates to about 158,000 votes to secure a four-seat minimum entry. The resulting deficit leaves Winter’s faction roughly 80,000 votes short of parliamentary entry, extinguishing its bid to function as an independent parliamentary bloc in the 26th Knesset.