Winter rejects Smotrich's offer and says he will stay in election race

Amcha Israel leader Ofer Winter said this evening that his party would continue running for the Knesset. He rejected an offer of a role in the Defense Ministry in exchange for withdrawing and said support for a future government would be conditional.

Bezalel Smotrich offered to seek a ministerial post for Winter in the Defense Ministry from Religious Zionism's allocation of government roles if Amcha Israel withdrew. This was a proposal for a future government, rather than an appointment already guaranteed or implemented.

Winter set demands concerning the status of military personnel and Gaza policy as conditions for supporting a government. He said right-wing parties would not receive his automatic support, while also pledging not to form a government with Yair Golan.