With the prospects of an election in the coming months increasing due to the ongoing coalition crisis over haredi (ultra-Orthodox) IDF service, two groups began formal proceedings in order to form political parties.
The first is a “reservists” party led by former Communications Minister Yoaz Hendel. Hendel has begun collecting signatures in order to file a request to the Registrar of Political Parties. According to a poll published on June 5 by pollster Menachem Lazar, if an election were held now, Hendel would win nine seats. The poll was conducted based on the assumption that former prime minister Naftali Bennett would run as well.
Bennett has yet to officially announce he is running, but numerous sources have confirmed that this is his intention. The former prime minister registered a new party called “Bennett 2026” on April 1.
Hendel, who is also a historian and an author, began organizing a grassroots movement of IDF reservists in the months following the October 7 Hamas massacre. Alongside speaking engagements and activist gatherings, the movement has organized numerous volunteer initiatives, including assisting in renovating homes that were damaged during the war.
Following the Hamas massacre, Hendel also helped form and has commanded a new battalion of volunteer combat soldiers who have passed the cutoff age for reserve duty, with many above the age of 50.
New joint Jewish-Arab party initiative
A second political initiative was first reported by Mohammad Magadli of Radio a-Nas and Channel 12. The initiative is for a new joint Jewish-Arab party and is being led by members of the NGO “Omdim Beyachad” (“Standing Together”).
According to its website, the NGO is a “progressive grassroots movement organizing Jewish and Palestinian citizens of Israel against the occupation and for peace, equality, and social justice.”
A spokesperson for “Omdim Beyachad” stressed that the movement is focused on social activism, is not politically affiliated, and will remain so, while its members who are forming a political party are doing so of their own accord and separately from the NGO.