As fighting continues in the north, the Reservists Party opened a headquarters in Kiryat Shmona and published the results of its internal primary on Wednesday for the list headed by Yoaz Hendel. The party said the ballot, held last week, confirmed Hendel as its leader. The slate includes bereaved families, war wounded, reservists and social activists who have led the campaign against military draft exemptions over the past two years.
Hendel welcomed the result, saying, "I am proud of the slate that was formed, those who led Israel when the state disappeared should be the ones to lead it in the political system too." He said the party chose to hold primaries, unlike the rest of the political system, to reflect the decision of thousands of activists and registered supporters, whom he called the party's partners over the past two years. He added that the party now wants to move toward its goal of "a Zionist government without Haredi and Arab parties, a draft law, and a decision on the battlefield."
Just hours before voting began, attorney Shvut Ra'anan, one of the most prominent figures in the fight against the draft law and a founder of the Reservists' Wives Forum, announced she was withdrawing from the race. She said the recent developments in the Middle East showed that an authentic reservists' struggle, important as it is, is no longer sufficient on its own to meet Israel's broader challenges.
The announced list includes Maj. Yoav Adumi, 45, deputy battalion commander in Battalion 8111 of Brigade 5, who said he has served about 550 reserve days since October 7 and helped found the movement that later became the party. Also selected were Roy Frank, 37, a reserve platoon commander in the Negev Brigade who served 440 days and was wounded in Gaza, Lt. Col. (res.) Erez Ben Ezra, 56, a planning officer with 400 reserve days, Maj. (res.) Tehila Peretz, 39, who served about 700 days as a casualty officer and leads the party's mental health and IDF wounded portfolio, Shlomi Damari, 35, who served about 500 days and lost his brother Dan after the Nova festival attack, and Amalya Kinan, 43, a community emergency team leader in Yonatan in the Golan Heights.
