"Go Along and Feel Left Out": Winter's Ruse in the Game Against Netanyahu

Dana Pan Luzon analyzes the complex relationship between Benjamin Netanyahu and Ofer Winter ahead of the elections. According to her, Netanyahu needs a moderate success for Winter to retain disappointed right-wing voters, but not a success that would make him a replacement. Winter, for his part, offers his voters a ruse of "going along and feeling left out" – staying on the right while expressing protest.

Dana Pan Luzon, in an opinion column, analyzes the political dynamics between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Ofer Winter, who is running as an independent right-wing candidate. According to her, Netanyahu is pursuing a dual strategy: on one hand, the placement of symbols of heroism, bereavement, and sacrifice in Likud slots allows him to reframe the October 7 disaster – instead of failure and responsibility, the story becomes one of heroism and awakening. On the other hand, Netanyahu needs Winter to succeed to a certain degree – enough to retain disappointed right-wing voters within the camp, but not enough to be seen as a genuine replacement. Winter, for his part, offers his voters a ruse: "go along and feel left out" – staying on the right while expressing protest. The confrontation between the two, which appears to be a real war, is actually a sophisticated game in which both need each other. However, the writer emphasizes that despite all the psychological detours, one fact remains unavoidable: before October 7 and on October 7, Netanyahu was the head.