Amcha Yisrael Chairman Ofer Winter concluded on Monday that his party will run independently in the upcoming elections. The party director-general submitted the list to General Election Committee Chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, requesting that the letter Kaf in its final form (ך) appear on the party's ballot.
Winter leads the slate, followed by activist Yoseph Haddad in second, and journalist Netali Shem Tov in third. In fourth place is the leader of the conservative opposition bloc within the Israel Bar Association, Eran Ben Ari; in fifth is Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan-Nahoum; and in sixth is bereaved mother Lali Deri.
Further down the list are economist Ronen Budnero in seventh place, Samaria Council Deputy Chair Davidi Ben Zion in eighth, Aviv Ezra in ninth, and Sigal Kraunik in tenth. They are followed by Eli Gino in 11th place, new oleh Eric Rubin in 12th, Alam Ibrahim in 13th, Moshe Har Tzion in 14th, Lilach Haim Idelberg in 15th, Moshe Toledano in 16th, Raz Malka in 17th, and Dor Yitzhak in 18th place.
After submitting the list, Winter said that his party, which was officially launched just two weeks ago, has already become a "significant player on the political map." He stated that the party seeks to represent the entire population and lead a "true right-wing policy and military victory on all fronts."
Winter also addressed the issue of haredi conscription and declared that his party supports the integration of haredim in the IDF and giving "full backing to the soldiers." He added that it will be done "without compromise and without willingness to serve as a political protective vest for Goldknopf at the expense of the service members."
"With G-d's help, we will be the surprize of the elections," Winter declared.
The submission of the list shuts the door on any possibility of Amcha Yisrael uniting with another party ahead of the elections. The decision comes after days of pressure on Winter to unite with Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party.
Smotrich criticized Winter’s decision: “We regret Ofer Winter’s decision to run independently and gamble with the future of right-wing rule and the State of Israel. The only people who stand to gain from Winter’s refusal to unite the national camp are Gali Baharav-Miara, Yitzhak Amit and their friends on the left."
“Winter’s stubborn refusal of every proposal for unity in the national camp is deeply disappointing and casts a heavy shadow over his judgment and the credibility of his promise to recommend Netanyahu for prime minister and join only the national camp. A true right-winger does not take risks this time."
Winter responded: “The people of Israel want new faces. We appreciate your work, but we will not engage in fearmongering. You, too, must recognize and acknowledge that the public wants new people, those who were not part of the events that led us to October 7, those who can lead Israel to victory in Gaza, integrate haredim into the IDF, and address the many challenges that were not handled during the previous term. It is time to bring a fresh spirit to the right-wing camp and the Knesset."
In recent days, Smotrich had called on Winter to join forces with him to prevent votes from being lost by the right-wing camp. The Religious Zionist Party also said Smotrich had delayed decisions on reserved slots on his slate to keep places available for a merger with Winter’s party.
Members of the Religious Zionist Party said Smotrich had considered adding various figures to the slate in recent weeks but preferred to wait because of the possibility of joining forces with Amcha Yisrael. After concluding that Winter was leaning toward running independently, the party announced that Smotrich would resume considering the possibility of strengthening the slate through reserved slots at the chairman’s discretion.
The political pressure was joined by a long list of Religious Zionist rabbis and yeshiva heads, who issued a public appeal to Winter on Sunday morning to join the unity effort. “This week will determine whether the right goes into the upcoming elections with united forces or, G-d forbid, divided," the rabbis wrote.
They then addressed Winter directly: “We call on Ofer Winter to take responsibility and act promptly to advance the important efforts of Religious Zionist Party chairman and Minister Bezalel Smotrich to unite the right-wing camp." They said there was no room for political risks given the challenges at stake.
“Unity is always a good thing, certainly when major dangers facing the entire Jewish people lie ahead," the rabbis wrote. They concluded their letter with a direct appeal: “Ofer, certainty is preferable to uncertainty. Risks must not be taken when the entire Jewish people is at stake."