Winter Accuses Likud of Spying on Him — Party Walks It Back After Likud Threatens Defamation Suit

Ofer Winter, head of the ‘Amcha Yisrael’ party, accused the Likud party on Tuesday night of deploying private investigators to gather information against him and his party, sparking a sharp public exchange just weeks ahead of the election.

Speaking at a campaign event, Winter said: “They tried to connect and weld us together, they tried and are trying to go after our heads, they tried to break us apart,” Winter charged, adding, “They tried to threaten us, they sent private investigators, they sent hateful messages to my phone and to the phones of every member of the party — we’re here.”

Winter Added: “All of us. Strong as one fist, and above all not afraid, not of threats, not of intimidation. Yes, there are people here who cannot be bought, and that’s how it will be in the next government too.”

Likud responded forcefully, calling the accusation “an absolute lie” and demanding Winter retract it:

The Likud party said in a statement: “It’s an absolute lie. We demand Winter retract the false and baseless accusations. If he does not, Likud will act to file a defamation lawsuit against him. It’s a shame that instead of attacking the left and preventing the formation of a government led by Eisenkot, Yair Golan, Liberman and the Arab parties, Winter is choosing to harm the right’s victory in the election.”

Following Likud’s response, Winter’s party moved quickly to issue a clarification: “Ofer Winter did not say at any point in the speech that it was Likud that sent private investigators to his home.”