Likud minister attacks Ofer Winter: "On Palestine's side"

Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi attacked Ofer Winter, head of the Amcha Yisrael party, in a Channel 14 interview Monday, saying: "Winter is on the side of Palestine."

Winter's party responded immediately: "The wild incitement by Shlomo Karhi endangers the entire right wing and shows more than anything why we need new, clean people in Israeli politics."

The statement continued: "Minister Karhi's grave words this morning on Channel 14, claiming 'Winter is on the side of Palestine,' prove once again that he and his colleagues have lost all restraint in the sick war they are waging, making unbelievable lies against Lt. Col. (res.) Ofer Winter, a brave and determined fighter, and against the people on the Amcha Yisrael list."

The party added: "Winter paid a heavy price for his views during his military service and does not need to prove he is a right-winger to anyone, certainly not to Karhi or to the rest of the Likud list members who are partners to these disgraceful attacks. The public despises these statements and does not believe the slander against Winter, whom many wanted to secure as number three in Likud, and against Yosef Haddad, an Israeli hero who was wounded in his military service in Golani and has fought for the State of Israel for years around the world."

"These statements cause many on the right to feel disgusted and drive voters away from the right-wing camp. Karhi and his colleagues would do better to focus on what they plan to do for the people of Israel rather than on disgraceful statements, empty words and lashon hara."

"These statements illustrate even more why we need new, clean people in Israeli politics."