Full Breakdown
Smotrich Offers Ministerial Post to Ofer Winter to Secure Withdrawal Ahead of Oct. 27 Election
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Election Stakes and Smotrich’s Offer
On October 21, 2026, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that he would relinquish one of the ministerial slots allocated to his Religious Zionist Party in a future coalition if People of Israel party leader Ofer Winter withdrew his candidacy from the October 27 Knesset election. The proposed post would sit in the Defense Ministry and grant authority over a voluntary-migration directorate for Gaza and a directorate for ultra-Orthodox enlistment, both identified as Winter’s priorities.
Winter rejected the proposal later that evening, emphasizing that his campaign is “about change” rather than “political patronage.” He also pledged to remain in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing bloc, provided a law enforcing conscription for the ultra-Orthodox is passed.
Background: Threshold Concerns and Historical Parallel
Smotrich warned that Winter’s continued run could repeat the 1992 election, when several small right-wing parties failed to clear the electoral threshold, enabling a Labor government under Yitzhak Rabin. Recent polls have shown the People of Israel party hovering at or just above the threshold, raising fears that its votes could be wasted and jeopardize the broader right-wing coalition’s chance to block a left-wing government.
The People of Israel party positions itself as a fresh voice unconnected to the Knesset members or security failures linked to the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack.
Official Statements & Responses
- Bezalel Smotrich framed the offer as a “genuine partnership” that would give Winter a realistic platform while protecting the right-wing bloc from “wasted” votes.
- Benjamin Netanyahu publicly urged Winter to step aside, stating that his withdrawal would “save the Right” and prevent a “dangerous left-wing government.”
- Ofer Winter countered that his party would continue endorsing Netanyahu for prime minister and that he would not abandon his mandate.
Verbatim Quotes
- “You’ve got it wrong. We didn’t come for a job, as you’re accustomed to. We came to bring change and lead a new path,” — Ofer Winter, the prime minister
- “Ofer, my brother, you are a good man. A principled leader and a brave commander with many achievements to your credit,” — Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister
- “The right-wing camp cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.” — Bezalel Smotrich, finance minister
What’s Next
The election is scheduled for October 27, and the outcome will determine whether the right-wing parties can maintain a unified front in the Knesset. No further offers have been reported, and Winter’s party has signaled it will stay on the ballot.