People of Israel chairman Ofer Winter said that he would not rule out joining a coalition with both Yashar's Gadi Eisenkot and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying that what mattered to him was bringing in the policies of the right wing, during an interview with N12 News on Saturday.
"I believe a broad government is needed here," Winter explained. "I don’t rule anything out - working with Netanyahu, or with right-wing figures whom I respect - in order to steer policy. But for this to happen, there must be a broad right-wing government."
Winter also claimed that 13% of voters wanted to vote for People of Israel, despite recent polling showing his party not crossing the electoral threshold.
"They're afraid because a scare campaign has been enacted on them - 'They won't pass,'" Winter claimed. "There are hundreds of thousands of us here, hundreds of thousands who want to vote - don't be afraid."
Support for Netanyahu not unconditional, Winter says
Earlier this month, Winter said his support for Netanyahu was not unconditional in an interview with Channel 12’s "Meet the Press," emphasizing that Netanyahu must abide by his party’s demands to keep that support.
“If not, then I’m telling you, Bibi can kiss my ass,” he said when asked how he would respond if Netanyahu did not do so. “I mean this seriously; I don’t work for a person.”
The demands listed by Winter include a decisive military outcome in Gaza, emigration from Gaza, the passing of a law requiring haredi (ultra-Orthodox) citizens to draft to the IDF, and a right-wing coalition that does not depend on United Torah Judaism’s Yitzhak Goldknopf for its 61st Knesset seat.
Aaron Glick contributed to this report.