Former IDF general Ofer Winter stated Sunday that he will not run on a joint slate with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the next election, asserting he is 'not sectoral.' The statement deepens the public rift within the religious-Zionist camp, following a similar announcement by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir earlier today.
Ofer Winter, a former IDF general and prominent figure on the religious right, announced Sunday that he will not run on a joint slate with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich in the next election. Quoted as saying 'I am not sectoral,' Winter explicitly ruled out an alliance with the Religious Zionism party leader.
The statement deepens a growing rift within the religious-Zionist camp. Earlier Sunday, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also confirmed that he and Smotrich will not run together, posting on social media that the camp needs 'two heads' to win. As The Zioneer reported on June 22, political analyst Avraham Hasson told Channel 14 that Winter was considering running with an independent party, believing he could reclaim right-wing votes lost to the center-left.
Winter's announcement, while not unexpected, solidifies the fragmentation of the camp that once anchored the governing coalition. The precise electoral vehicle Winter intends to use remains unannounced, and it is unclear whether he will coordinate with Ben Gvir's Otzma Yehudit or run separately.
- StrongBen Gvir confirms he and Smotrich will not run together, repeats 'two heads' argument
- DevelopingPolitical analyst: Ofer Winter considering running with independent party
- DevelopingOfer Winter says he will not join any existing party, attacks Eisenkot in leaked recordings
- DevelopingFinance Minister Smotrich says his party not committed to coalition negotiations or agreements
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake