Hendel Clashes With Channel 14 Panel Over Polls, Netanyahu, and Gaza

Yoaz Hendel, chairman of the Reservists Party and former minister, appeared on Channel 14's "The Patriots" program on Saturday night, just three days before the 26th Knesset elections. During the broadcast, Hendel engaged in several confrontations with host Yinon Magal and panel members. Hendel, who is running on a joint list with Professor Yaron Zelicha of the Economic Party, addressed his chances of crossing the electoral threshold. When Magal noted that most polls did not show his party passing the threshold, Hendel confidently cited polls from Kan 11, Walla, and Israel Hayom, which projected four seats for his party. He also quipped about Channel 14's polls, suggesting they showed Netanyahu winning 70 seats. Hendel concluded the debate by stating, "We'll see on Wednesday if he is a spotlight operator or an over-surveyor," referring to Shlomo Filber and the day after the elections.

Recent polls from Kan 11 and Israel Hayom indeed show the joint list crossing the threshold with four seats, a number also reflected in a Walla poll from October 13. However, four seats represent the minimum for Knesset entry, and concerns about wasted votes persist for smaller parties. Hendel also defended his political transitions, arguing that blind loyalty to a party might indicate a lack of ideological backbone. He expressed a desire to form a Zionist government without ultra-Orthodox or Arab parties, while also opposing calls to shut down Channel 14 or harm the pre-military academy Atzva.

The most heated exchange focused on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription. Hendel asserted that Netanyahu bears responsibility for the October 7th events as Prime Minister and argued that Israel's military potential is not being fully utilized due to a shortage of personnel. "We are short 13,000 soldiers. It cannot be that Netanyahu is preventing us from winning because he is not drafting soldiers," Hendel claimed. He further criticized the government's policies in Gaza and Lebanon, accusing the panel of encouraging retreats and stating that Israel is thinning forces in both arenas due to the soldier shortage. Hendel also mentioned a figure of 250 million shekels per month, which he claimed reaches Hamas, referencing a Channel 12 report estimating Hamas's revenue from collecting fees on private goods entering Gaza.

Panel member Yaki Adamker questioned Hendel's willingness to lead the country to further elections solely over an objection to serving in a Netanyahu-led government. Adamker also raised an allegation regarding a statement by Hendel's number three candidate, former Knesset member Einat Wilf, comparing children in the Gaza envelope to children in Gaza. Hendel dismissed this as "fake news," stating Wilf's words were taken out of context. He also referenced Netanyahu's past ties with Yasser Arafat and support for the disengagement, accusing the panel of presenting his party's members' statements selectively. Towards the end of the interview, Hendel defended his political partner, Professor Yaron Zelicha, stating the panel attacked Zelicha because they understood he was correct about the high cost of living in Israel, concluding, "The most expensive country in the West. You don't buy groceries with forecasts."