Crucial discussions on Winter, campaign launch event and UN speech: Likud warms up engines

This week, Likud is expected to hold crucial discussions on the strategy regarding Ofer Winter's party. On the agenda: an attack against Winter or lowering the flames in hopes he passes the electoral threshold. Meanwhile, preparations are underway for a campaign launch event on Thursday at Expo Tel Aviv and for Netanyahu's UN speech on September 24.

This week, Likud is expected to hold crucial discussions regarding the strategy towards Ofer Winter's party. Two opposing options are on the table: launching an attack against Winter, trying to "absorb" his voters and cause his collapse - or continuing to lower the flames towards him, hoping that in the end he will manage to pass the electoral threshold and keep the votes within the right-wing bloc. The dilemma stems from the strategy that has accompanied Likud over the past year - a desire to see a "satellite party" that can absorb right-wing voters who are unwilling to vote for Likud led by Netanyahu. In internal polls, Winter receives only 1.8% and 1.9%, far from the electoral threshold, raising concerns about the loss of tens of thousands of votes. Likud leadership is also concerned about Winter's level of commitment to the Netanyahu bloc after the elections. At the Likud faction meeting last week, Netanyahu said that "we still have to deal with Winter." Meanwhile, Likud is preparing for a campaign launch event on Thursday at Expo Tel Aviv and for Netanyahu's UN speech on September 24, where he is "preparing surprises."