Hendel Open to Joining Government with Netanyahu, Bennett, Eisenkot
Translated & summarized from TheMarker by baba
Politician Yoaz Hendel said he would join a unity government with Benjamin Netanyahu, Naftali Bennett, and Gadi Eisenkot. He also stated he would continue running for office regardless of poll numbers and that his political alliance with Professor Yaron Zelekha began as a practical move but developed into a shared agenda. Hendel's top priorities if appointed minister would be universal conscription legislation and reducing the cost of living.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Yoaz Hendel would join a government with Netanyahu, Bennett, and Eisenkot.
- Hendel would continue running for office even if his party falls below the electoral threshold.
- Universal conscription and lowering the cost of living are Hendel's top ministerial priorities.
- Hendel's political alliance with Yaron Zelekha started as technical but became a shared agenda.
- Hendel rejected joining a government without a conscription law or with Arab parties.
Politician Yoaz Hendel stated his willingness to join a government that includes Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot. Hendel expressed this during an appearance on TheMarker's election program, "Running for Elections," where he answered questions on various political and economic topics.
During a rapid-fire segment, Hendel indicated a preference for Jerusalem over Tel Aviv, basketball over soccer, and the right-wing over the center. He also humorously remarked that reserve duty is "a much more fun place" than politics. Hendel linked the concept of "conscription for all" to lowering the cost of living, explaining that universal service impacts the economy positively.
When presented with political scenarios, Hendel rejected joining a government without a conscription law or one that includes Arab parties. However, he did not rule out serving alongside Netanyahu, specifically mentioning a unity government with Eisenkot and Bennett as a possibility he would "definitely be part of."
Hendel affirmed he would continue to run for office even if his party's poll numbers fell below the electoral threshold. If appointed minister, his top priorities would be legislation for universal conscription, followed by measures to reduce the cost of living within the framework of the Arrangements Law, and establishing a stable government to advance issues of governance and settlement encouragement.
Discussing his political alliance with Professor Yaron Zelekha, Hendel described it as initially a practical, technical arrangement for political strength but evolving into a partnership based on a shared agenda. He characterized their collaboration as addressing two core issues troubling Israelis: "two pains that sit in Israelis' bellies, and we want to treat them."
Hendel concluded by describing his ideal Israel as "Zionist, egalitarian in rights and duties, and developing."