Netanyahu brings Hadar Muchtar into Likud campaign

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is reportedly struggling to devise a campaign strategy as his Likud party has lost 10 seats, according to a report by Kan News. In confidential conversations, Netanyahu expressed uncertainty on how to regain those seats and suggested that unless circumstances change, Likud may lose the upcoming election. The prime minister appears to be skeptical of optimistic polls and believes the situation is more dire than the surveys indicate.

Netanyahu's concerns surfaced following the launch of Brigadier General (res.) Ofer Winter's new party, People of Israel, on Tuesday. Polling data suggests this party could secure five seats, potentially disqualifying Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich's Religious Zionist Party from the electoral threshold. Winter unveiled his party during an event at Jerusalem's Shalva Center, framing the October 27 election as a contest between the current political leadership and a new generation inspired by the aftermath of the October 7 massacre.

Winter included other candidates from the communities they represent, such as Arab-Israeli activist Yoseph Haddad in the second spot.