From the Liveblog of
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party joins forces with ex-Blue and White MK Chili Tropper
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleAriela Karmel is a political correspondent at The Times of Israel. She previously reported for Calcalist and Haaretz. She holds an MA in Middle Eastern and African History from Tel Aviv University and a BA in Political Science from the University of British Columbia.
Yoaz Hendel’s Reservists party announces that it will run together with former Blue and White MK Chili Tropper in the upcoming national election, due to be held by October 27, after weeks of reported talks between the two.
Describing the alliance as “the first step toward creating a significant new Zionist political force,” the party says its goal is to “lead a broad Zionist government” that will represent “those who serve, volunteer, fight, perform reserve duty and contribute through action.”
“To me, Chili represents the best of Israeli society,” Hendel says in a statement, calling the partnership “what can pull the State of Israel out of the current deadlock.”
The move ends months of speculation about Tropper’s political future after he announced in May that he was leaving Benny Gantz’s Blue and White party. Other senior lawmakers had previously departed Blue and White and later joined the Yashar party, established by Gadi Eisenkot after he split from Gantz last year.
Eisenkot welcomes the move, saying he “congratulates my friend Chili Tropper.”
“Chili is an experienced, unifying leader who deserves to play a central role in the national rehabilitation Israel so urgently needs, and to be an important voice in the Zionist, statesmanlike government we will establish,” he continues.
Gantz also welcomes Tropper and Hendel “joining the effort we are leading to establish Israel’s bloc.”
The announcement comes after reported talks between Hendel and an emerging alliance led by Gantz and political newcomer Dedy Simhi collapsed on Sunday over the question of potentially joining a future coalition including the ultra-Orthodox parties.
Hendel, who founded the Reservists last year to pass a universal draft law, has repeatedly ruled out joining a coalition with the Haredi parties, which are campaigning to preserve draft exemptions for ultra-Orthodox men.
Gantz has declined to rule out such a coalition, while Simhi has said he would consider one if it were necessary to form a broad Zionist government and avoid another election.
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