MK Chili Tropper reportedly considering leaving struggling Blue and White party

11 January 2026, 8:22 am

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MK Chlli Tropper reads a letter from Yarden Bibas to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as Netanyahu and other MKs listen, during a debate on calls for a state inquiry into the failures surrounding October 7, 2023's Hamas invasion and slaughter, on March 3, 2025. (Chaim Goldberg / Flash90)

Chili Tropper, a lawmaker with the opposition Blue and White, is reportedly considering leaving the party as it struggles for viability ahead of elections later this year.

If he exits, Tropper would be the fourth lawmaker to defect from Blue and White, led by MK Benny Gantz, since the middle of last year. Tropper has been an ally of Gantz since 2019.

Tropper has asked Gantz to assess whether the party stands a chance of gaining enough votes to remain in the Knesset, Hebrew outlets report. Polls have shown Blue and White hovering around the electoral threshold, which requires parties to garner at least 3.25% of votes to enter the Knesset.

Otherwise, Tropper is exploring the possibility of Blue and White merging with another party, such as the new factions led by former prime minister Naftali Bennett or former minister Yoaz Hendel.