Amcha Yisrael party chairman Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter declared that his party will recommend Benjamin Netanyahu for prime minister, but set a clear condition for joining the government: passage of a national service law requiring all young people to report and contribute, even before the government is sworn in. Winter also addressed criticism sparked by his support for Netanyahu and apologized to those who were disappointed by the announcement.
Winter began by discussing the establishment of the party last week and the presentation of its electoral slate. He described it as “a clean, new, honest, fighting team," and claimed that various parties have been attempting in recent days to harm it through spin, lies and advertisements.
According to Winter, Amcha Yisrael seeks to present an alternative to existing politics and does not represent any particular sector. “We are not sectoral. We are Amcha Yisrael," he said, adding that the members of the slate are united by a desire to work on behalf of the entire public.
One of the central issues to which Winter committed himself is integrating the Haredi community into the IDF. “We intend to bring about the integration of the Haredi public into the IDF without compromises and without delays. No more of the same. What was will be no more," he declared.
Winter criticized the current government, arguing that those who failed over three years to integrate Haredim into the IDF, establish a commission of inquiry that would enjoy broad public confidence, and achieve a clear victory in Gaza will not succeed in doing so in the future with the current composition. He said that if Amcha Yisrael is strong in the next government, his party will work to advance these issues.
Winter then addressed his statement several days ago that his party is part of the right-wing camp and will recommend Netanyahu for prime minister. He said that, given the existing alternatives, his party does not see itself joining Avigdor Liberman, Naftali Bennett and others who, he said, had already formed a government with the “Muslim Brotherhood movement."
At the same time, he said he had received responses from people who were disappointed by the decision to support Netanyahu after the party had presented itself as offering something new. “First of all, I want to apologize to anyone who was disappointed. We will always tell you the truth. We will not lie," he said.
Winter made clear that, from his perspective, supporting Netanyahu does not constitute a commitment to join a Netanyahu-led government under any circumstances. “We do not serve an individual; we serve a people," he said, announcing that his party would not join the government unless the national service law is passed before the government is formed.
“Every young person of service age will report to the state. No sector is above the law. Those who serve will receive benefits. Those who contribute more will receive much more," Winter declared. He said combat soldiers and reservists would be placed at the top of the national priority list.
Winter stressed that he would not settle for a future commitment or a clause in a coalition agreement. “The national service law will pass before the government is sworn in. Not a promise, not a clause in a coalition agreement, and not ‘after we form a government.’ No one is going to BS us," he said.
He also rejected the possibility that members of his slate would disperse among other political frameworks. “We’re not looking for jobs," he said, adding that the party’s members had not entered politics out of personal considerations, but in order to advance the path they had presented.
Looking ahead to the elections, Winter predicted a significant protest vote. Addressing young men and women who, he said, feel that they have no one to vote for, he said: “Amcha Yisrael is your home."
Winter added that the party does not rule out political alliances, but said they would be formed only with “new and clean people." He said the party’s door is open to anyone who wants “to fix things and put the good of the people of Israel above all else," anyone who is not “tainted by October 7," and anyone seeking to change the divisive and violent political discourse.
Yoseph Haddad, an Amcha Yisrael candidate and Ofer Winter’s deputy, clarified that the party’s members do not intend to compromise their principles in exchange for positions or reserved slots on electoral lists. He said the members of the slate are united and entered politics to change the existing reality and exert influence from within a broad right-wing government.
Haddad said the party would not be part of a government that does not accept the demands and reforms it puts forward, stressing that these would be presented transparently to the public. Among the goals he listed were broader sharing of the national burden among all sectors of society, strengthening Israel’s position in the region, and leading a change in security policy.
According to Haddad, Amcha Yisrael wants to see Ofer Winter serve as defense minister, believing that he would be able to lead changes in the defense establishment and bring about decisive outcomes on the various fronts. He added that the party would demand a Public Diplomacy Ministry with real influence and a significant budget that would work on Israel’s behalf in the international arena.
Haddad devoted a significant portion of his remarks to Arab society. He claimed that the party already has significant support among Arab Israelis and that its goal is to win two Knesset seats’ worth of votes from Arab society, including from people who have never previously voted for right-wing parties.
He said the priorities of the Arab public are personal security, welfare, education and a better future, rather than the Palestinian issue. Haddad said his party intends to place the fight against crime and protection rackets at the center of its agenda while also strengthening, in his words, Arab-Israeli identity in educational institutions.
Haddad also addressed young people, saying that the party seeks to provide them with a new political home. He said the generation that has distinguished itself since October 7 deserves new representatives who will work on its behalf “without posing and without filters."