Panic in Likud: Liberman's shadow man is locked in with Ofer Winter | Mati Tuchfeld

The article describes the Likud's concerns over the entry of Sharon Shalom, Avigdor Liberman's confidant, into Ofer Winter's inner circle, and analyzes the political implications for the election campaign, including Netanyahu's surplus agreement with Religious Zionism and the dilemma vis-à-vis Ben Gvir.

The article, by Mati Tuchfeld, describes the panic in Likud following the joining of Sharon Shalom, Avigdor Liberman's confidant, to Ofer Winter's inner circle. The move lights a "bright red light" in the party leadership. The article analyzes Netanyahu's strategy, who signed a surplus agreement with Religious Zionism to prevent Winter from taking votes from coalition supporters, while sticking a finger in Ben Gvir's eye. Winter, for his part, believes he is drawing votes from the left, from the "soft right" that is unwilling to vote for the current coalition. The article casts doubt on the true size of this audience and notes that time will tell if it is a bluff. Netanyahu's political machine is described as a well-oiled campaign machine that will not let go of Winter.