Winter: They sent PIs, harassed our kids

Winter opened by addressing the motives that led him to establish the party: "We entered the political arena to offer a leadership alternative to a vast right-wing public that refuses to accept it has only two options: parties that call themselves right-wing and boycott the right, or the outgoing coalition parties that surrender time after time to the interests of political manoeuvring and deals, harming the broader public."

The Amcha Yisrael chairman described the price he and his candidates have paid in recent weeks: "From the moment we said we deserve more, for those who serve, for the young, for the fighters, for the periphery, ugly and inconceivable fire was directed at us, mainly from within our own camp. Harassment of candidates and their children, sending private investigators, a false dossier on a bereaved mother from the war, pressure on rabbis, outright lies, simply unbelievable."

Winter addressed Smotrich's offer directly, and his past statements: "I heard Smotrich, who said in the past, in a false statement, that he offered me the first spot in his party, now offering me a different position this evening, in a government that hasn't even been formed yet. Friends, you're confused. We didn't come for a job, as you're used to. We came to change. We came to lead a path. We came to serve those who serve, not to lend a hand to the continuation of political manoeuvring and the division of posts."

The party chairman clarified his political position: "From day one I said, we are in the right-wing camp. I did not change my positions in 34 years of service in the IDF and I have no intention of changing them today, even if they hurt me on a personal level, I have no other way. But I was also very, very clear, there will be no blank cheque here. I said yes and I said but. They give, they get; they don't give, they don't get."

Winter detailed his conditions: "They give a law on the status of those who serve, caring for fighters and changing the order of priorities in the state, they get. They don't give, they don't get. They give leadership towards a decision and voluntary emigration from Gaza, they get. They don't give, they don't get. Very simple."

The Amcha Yisrael chairman emphasised that his party is the key to preventing a left-wing government: "We are people of truth. We will not take our votes and form a government with Yair Golan, that will never happen. When we are strong, there is no Golan-Abbas government. When we are strong, there will be no Netanyahu government dependent on Goldknopf and political operators. When we are strong, it is the only chance to establish here a broad right-wing government, a serving right-wing, a right-wing that defeats its enemies and not its brothers."

Winter called on voters not to surrender to intimidation: "Don't believe the scare tactics. Don't believe the fake news and the blatant lies. Don't believe politicians who wasted precious time for us that cost much blood. We feel in recent days the public awakening. Hundreds of thousands of undecided voters who now have someone to vote for, and hundreds of thousands more who are afraid because of the scare tactics they hear."

Closing his remarks, Winter addressed reservists and soldiers: "I say this evening to the thousands of reservists and soldiers writing to us from the ballot boxes: 'Our vote is yours, we are building on you', and I tell you here in a clear voice: I have never abandoned my people and we will do everything to be worthy of the great trust you place in us. We entered politics for you. We feel your support and will fight for you to the end, until victory."

In recent days, pressure has intensified on the smaller parties in the right-wing bloc to withdraw from the race. Benny Gantz announced his withdrawal from the elections, and Smotrich called sharply on parties that do not clearly pass the threshold to draw conclusions. Netanyahu also joined the public attack, warning of "wasted votes" that could bring the left to power.