Hendel Urges Winter to Form Anti-Haredi, Anti-Arab Coalition Bloc

Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists-Economic Party, called on Ofer Winter, chairman of 'Am Ech Israel,' to sign a surplus agreement and commit to forming a coalition exclusively with parties that are not Haredi or Arab. Hendel presented this move as a "blocking bloc against non-Zionist governments," urging Winter to retract his stated intention of joining a government led by Benjamin Netanyahu alongside Haredi parties.

Hendel framed his appeal in the context of the ongoing war, emphasizing the need to increase the number of IDF soldiers. He criticized Haredi parties, arguing that a government dependent on them cannot advance broader conscription, and also rejected reliance on Arab parties, accusing them of not recognizing Hamas as a terrorist organization. "You are forced to choose between two non-Zionist governments, either a government with Haredi parties that extort the government for more draft deferments and harm national security, or a government with Arab parties that do not recognize Hamas as a terrorist organization," Hendel stated.

He argued that three years after October 7th, a change is needed in how coalitions are formed in Israel, asserting that "Zionist forces must cooperate and form a Zionist government." Hendel specifically addressed the issue of conscription, stating that "with Haredi parties, you cannot win on the battlefield. You cannot stand up to the missions on the front. We need more soldiers." He cited Yitzhak Goldknopf as an example, suggesting that in a coalition with him, "there is no chance for universal conscription to pass."

Hendel concluded by reiterating his proposal for a surplus agreement and a joint declaration to only join a "Zionist government." He urged Winter to "get out of the old concept and help us win on the battlefield."