Fearing the loss of right-wing votes.. Netanyahu enlists a rabbi to persuade Winter to withdraw

It added that the meeting aimed to leverage the close relationship between Sadan and Winter to persuade the latter to withdraw.

It quoted sources at the school as saying that Netanyahu and Smotrich presented the latest opinion polls to the rabbi, stating that the multiplicity of small parties could lead to the right-wing camp "losing" seats, while the opposition has "organized its ranks better" following the withdrawal of "Blue and White" party leader Benny Gantz from the race on Monday.

In response, Winter, in a video clip published by the newspaper, accused Netanyahu and Smotrich of trying to pressure him, saying: "The people of Israel want a different kind of politics."

He added that he is running in the elections to offer an alternative to the right-wing leadership, based on taking responsibility, acknowledging mistakes, and uniting Israelis, confirming that his party "will continue to compete until the end."

Electoral pressures

Last week, Davidi Ben Zion, the eighth candidate on Winter's list, withdrew following pressure from those close to Smotrich and rabbis in the West Bank, on the grounds that the party would not cross the electoral threshold, according to the newspaper.

Ben Zion attributed his decision to fears of wasting his voters' ballots, while Winter said on October 12 that he would hold Netanyahu responsible for the collapse of the right if his party failed to cross the electoral threshold.

Demands for Winter's withdrawal have escalated within the ruling coalition, given that his party is not crossing the 3.25 percent electoral threshold of the total valid votes according to opinion polls, especially after the withdrawal of Gantz, which the right considered a boost to the opposition's chances.

The elections will be held on October 27, amidst political division, while Netanyahu admitted on Sunday that he is not confident of winning and is "very worried."

A poll published by the Israeli Broadcasting Authority on Sunday showed the Netanyahu camp dropping two seats to 51, compared to 52 for the camp of "Yashar" party leader Gadi Eisenkot.

Eisenkot led in preferences for prime minister with 43 percent, compared to 35 percent for Netanyahu, according to the same poll.

Neither camp, according to the polls, possesses the majority needed to form a government, which is 61 seats out of 120 in the Knesset.

Netanyahu has headed the government since late 2022, and the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him on November 21, 2024, on suspicion of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity against Palestinians in Gaza.

He has also been on trial since 2020 on charges of bribery, fraud, and breach of trust, all of which he denies.