The newly established religious-nationalist People of Israel party, led by Ofer Winter, is projected to win six Knesset seats in October elections, according to a Channel 12 poll published Wednesday, pushing its political rival, Religious Zionism, below the four-seat electoral threshold. The poll also projected Gadi Eisenkot’s Yashar! party winning 25 seats, widening its lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s Likud, with just 21 seats.The survey highlights the depth of the crisis Netanyahu’s camp currently faces: The right-wing bloc — Jewish Power, the Likud, People of Israel and the ultra-Orthodox parties — would hold 49 seats, while the Zionist opposition — Together, Yisrael Beitenu and the Democrats — would win 59. The non-Zionist, Arab parties, which could support an opposition government from outside the coalition, would take 12 seats.המוקד: סקר וואלה: וינטר עם 6 מנדטים סמוטריץ׳, ארדן טרופר והנדל - בחוץ. קואליציית נתניהו עם וינטר על 49 pic.twitter.com/hQGsGb4lpB— חדשות המוקד (@hamoked_il) August 26, 2026
A strong newcomerOnly launched on Tuesday, People of Israel is the latest in a long list of new parties established ahead of the Oct. 27 elections. Among the others are Zionist Home, founded by former ministers Hili Tropper (previously Blue and White) and Yoaz Hendel (previously New Hope); Identity, led by former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin (previously Likud); and Unity, founded by former minister Gilad Erdan (previously Likud). Experts who spoke with Al-Monitor said that amid all the new contenders, Winter differs from the others because of his clear affiliation with the religious-nationalist right and People of Israel being his first foray into politics.Winter, 55, a retired brigadier general, served in the Israeli military for 34 years. Among other posts, he served as Central Command chief of staff and as military secretary to the defense minister. In 2021, chief of staff Aviv Kochavi reprimanded Winter over a conversation he had with right-wing Knesset member Naftali Bennett without prior approval from his superiors, effectively halting his scheduled promotion and ultimately leading to his retirement from military service three years later, in 2024. On Oct. 7, 2023, after hearing the initial reports of Hamas' attack, Winter traveled on his own initiative to Kibbutz Be’eri to join the fighting.Affiliated with the settler movement, Winter said at the People of Israel launch event that he and his fellow party members “are a clear and distinct part of the right-wing camp.” “We know exactly where we came from and where we are going,” he remarked. “There will never be a Palestinian state here. There is only one solution in Gaza — emigration.”
