Until the last moment: Netanyahu tried to take Yosef Haddad from Vinter

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office staff worked until Monday, just before the submission of party lists, in an attempt to recruit Yosef Haddad, the second-place candidate on Ofer Vinter's 'Amcha Yisrael' list, to Likud. Haddad refused the offers, stating that he chose a new party that brings 'a new spirit'. Vinter himself also refused a secured spot in Likud.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office staff invested significant efforts until last Monday, just before the submission of party lists to the Knesset, in an attempt to dismantle Ofer Vinter's party, 'Amcha Yisrael'. The main efforts were directed at recruiting Yosef Haddad, the second-place candidate on the list, and convincing him to accept a secured spot in Likud. According to sources familiar with the conversations, the efforts continued until the last moment. Haddad refused the offers, and in an official response to Ynet said he chose Vinter's party out of a desire to be part of a 'new spirit' in the Knesset, and that his words are binding. Vinter himself was also targeted by Netanyahu for a secured spot even before presenting his list, but made it clear that he intends to establish a party and run with it to the end. After the failure of attempts to get Vinter to unite with Smotrich, Likud began a delegitimization campaign against him, claiming he endangers the coalition bloc. Vinter's party is in most polls on the verge of the electoral threshold, with only four seats. The question now is whether an excess vote agreement will be signed between Vinter and Ben Gvir, as Likud will not want to legitimize Vinter but also will not want to waste votes.