'Focus on Hamas, not me': Winter accuses Netanyahu of prioritizing political survival over security

Winter, the People of Israel party chairman, has urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to prioritize aid trucks entering Gaza, illegal weapons in Israel, and increasing IDF enlistment over attempting to weaken him politically ahead of the elections. Winter dismissed Netanyahu's reported call to continue attacking his party on a political level, arguing that focusing on the People of Israel and the electoral threshold, which he claims is not yielding positive results, is more beneficial.

He also criticized the government for not addressing the widespread circulation of illegal weapons within Israel. Winter further accused the administration of neglecting the need to increase IDF enlistment. In addition, Netanyahu conveyed two primary messages to Likud lawmakers during a meeting on Sunday, urging more voter mobilization in traditional Likud strongholds and efforts to reclaim around three Knesset seats that the right-wing bloc allegedly lost to Winter's party and the Reservists/Economic Party list, led by Yoaz Hendel and Yaron Zelekha.

Netanyahu reportedly encouraged Likud members to continue targeting Winter politically within the party's election strategy. This disagreement arises as there is increasing concern within Likud about the potential impact of Winter's party on the right-wing bloc. The party has been attempting to prevent the loss of votes to smaller right-wing factions, especially those in danger of not crossing the electoral threshold.