Benjamin Netanyahu says Ofer Winter's candidacy is a "danger to the right-wing bloc"

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met privately Tuesday afternoon at the Kirya in Tel Aviv with Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to discuss election preparations and coordination among right-wing parties, according to a Channel 14 report. Much of the discussion reportedly centered on retired Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter and his new Amcha Yisrael party, with Netanyahu warning that Winter’s independent candidacy could damage their electoral prospects and urging the two ministers to work together. The report said Netanyahu feared the party might not clear the Knesset threshold, or that it could pull votes from right-wing parties and send them to the left. Winter rejected the report, accusing the three of meeting secretly to block him while avoiding security issues, and said his party is advancing toward the Knesset and government.