Winter's campaign and Netanyahu's calculation

Nadav Eyal analyzes Netanyahu's political calculation regarding Ofer Winter: although Winter supports him, Netanyahu fears he will defect to the change bloc after the elections, and therefore prefers that he fall below the electoral threshold. The article describes Israeli post-trauma as a central factor affecting the ability to imagine a better future, and cites a poll with an 11% gap in favor of Eisenkot.

Four days before the elections, Nadav Eyal analyzes in his column the political and psychological state of Israel. He argues that the country is in deep post-trauma following October 7 and the war, impairing the ability to imagine a better future. At the center of the political analysis is the party of Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter, 'Amcha Yisrael'. According to the article, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sees Winter as a threat, not an asset. Although Winter declares he will support Netanyahu, Netanyahu's calculation is that even with Winter he does not have a coalition of 61 seats, but there is a risk that Winter will defect after the elections and join the change bloc led by Gadi Eisenkot. Therefore, according to Likud sources, Netanyahu wants to 'peel off' mandates from Winter so that he falls below the electoral threshold. The article cites a Channel 12 poll giving the Netanyahu bloc together with Winter 51 seats versus 55 for the change bloc, and a suitability poll for prime minister with an 11% gap in favor of Eisenkot.