Matan Kahana: Ofer Winter firmly in Netanyahu bloc, Gantz and Troper should unite or quit race

Col. (res.) Matan Kahana, a senior member of the Yashar! party led by Gadi Eisenkot, said on Wednesday that former IDF officer Ofer Winter is "very clearly in the Netanyahu bloc," while calling on smaller parties seeking to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to unite or withdraw from the election race, he told 103FM.

Kahana spoke with Gideon Oko and Amichai Attali on Wednesday morning and reacted angrily to footage from Tuesday showing MK Zvi Sukkot smashing a memorial in the West Bank. He also addressed Winter's entry into politics and the emerging changes in the party landscape ahead of the upcoming election.

"These images are a disgrace, and this is anarchy," Kahana said. "A member of Knesset, a person who did not serve in the IDF, is acting in such an anarchistic way. It harms the State of Israel, and it is shameful that such a party purports to represent the religious-Zionist public."

Kahana supports smashing memorials to terrorists

Kahana said he believed such memorials should be removed, but not in the manner Sukkot had done.

"These memorials to terrorists need to be smashed, no question about it. It only shows whom our enemies glorify, but we are a state: We have an army, police, and a government. If this were important to the right-wing government, it would order the IDF to destroy these memorials," the former minister said.

"It is amazing to see how something that was so firmly in the consensus has become controversial," he continued. "It is clear that Zvi Sukkot did this to get a video and attention, and he does not care that this is not how a properly functioning country is supposed to operate. Smotrich's party is showing that it does not care about the institutions of the state when a person like this endangers IDF troops and manipulates them."

Winter is in the Netanyahu bloc, Kahana says

Kahana acknowledged that he had not watched Tuesday's launch of the Amcha Israel party headed by Ofer Winter. Asked about the new political framework, he said: "I have known him since the days when we served together in Sayeret Matkal. He is very clearly in the Netanyahu bloc. What is refreshing is that at least someone in his bloc does not support the draft evasion and desertion of our haredi brothers, and that is already refreshing news."

"For us, this is less of an issue," Kahana said. "We are focused on building a political body that will replace Netanyahu, and in my assessment, Winter is in the bloc that will strengthen him."

Kahana said the smaller parties in the bloc seeking political change should either merge or withdraw from the race. He said this also applied to his good friend and longtime political partner Benny Gantz.

"I have a lot of affection for Benny and gratitude for having been part of his party," Kahana said.

Small parties should unite or withdraw

He acknowledged that the two have not been in contact recently and questioned Gantz's current political positioning.

"Based on his latest statements, it is difficult to determine which bloc he belongs to and whether he intends to replace Netanyahu," Kahana said.

"Anyone who does not have six seats should either unite or withdraw," he added.

Kahana said the same message applied to another good friend, Chili Tropper, who joined Yoaz Hendel in a separate party.

"Exactly what I said about Gantz applies to Chili, even though he is a good and worthy person," Kahana said.

Kahana was also asked about his friend Ayelet Shaked.

"I am very friendly with her, but I am less interested in giving her political advice. She is a serious woman, and I do not hesitate to pick up the phone and call her, but not in political contexts. I do not advise her," he said.