Popular right-wing figure and former Givati Brigade commander Brig. Gen. (res.) Ofer Winter is expected to announce the launch of a new right-wing party next week and has been holding talks with several rising figures on the right in recent days.

Channel 12 News reported on Wednesday that Winter is behind billboards recently erected near the Ayalon Highway. The billboards don’t feature Winter’s name or photo, but state in large letters, “Soon you’ll have someone to vote for,” alongside the date August 25, when the new party is expected to be launched.

The lettering on the billboard is purple, a color associated with the Givati Brigade, in an apparent reference to Winter’s former role as commander of the brigade.

According to reports, Winter’s message when he launches the party next week will focus first and foremost on a commitment to the right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and an absolute refusal to serve in a government headed by Gadi Eisenkot. His second major focus will be the issue of military enlistment.

Unlike the majority of political players in the election, Winter, a member of the Religious Zionist sector, is not expected to attack Chareidim but will present himself as someone capable of bringing large numbers of Chareidim into the IDF by creating appropriate frameworks and requiring the military to adapt itself to accommodate Chareidi soldiers in significant numbers.

According to political sources, Winter believes the veteran parties in the Netanyahu bloc will struggle to win back right-wing voters who have become disillusioned with the current coalition parties, particularly Likud and Religious Zionism. At this stage, Winter is not interested in reserved spots on the Likud slate or in joining forces with Betzalel Smotrich or Itamar Ben Gvir.

However, Winter is not ruling out a merger with another party if running independently could harm the right-wing bloc and jeopardize its chances of forming a government. Such a move would be considered not only if his own party were in danger of failing to cross the electoral threshold, but also if his candidacy threatened the prospects of other parties in the bloc.

Channel 12 reported Tuesday evening that talks are underway between Winter, Yoseph Haddad and Lali Deri over a possible political alliance.

Haddad, a pro-Israel activist who grew up in an Arab Christian family in Nazareth, has been considering establishing his own party, called “Brave Israel.” Haddad, 41, served in the Golani Brigade and lost part of his leg in combat during the Second Lebanon War.

Another figure under consideration is Lali Deri, a bereaved mother and resident of Eli in Binyamin who became a prominent national voice following the death of her son, Staff Sgt. (res.) Saadia Yaakov Deri, H’yd, in the war in Gaza.

A statement on behalf of Haddad said: “Israel advocacy activist Yoseph Haddad is considering entering political life and has been exploring the idea recently, holding discussions and meetings with various figures and weighing his next steps. He will make a decision soon.”

Asked about the political move, Winter responded simply: “Patience.”

Winter’s launch of a new party is likely to deal a fatal blow to the centrist parties led by Benny Gantz, Gilad Erdan, Yuli Edelstein, and Yoaz Hendel and Hili Tropper, all of which are already polling below the electoral threshold.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)