Yoaz Hendel Refuses Netanyahu's Narrow Majority, Demands Broad Zionist Unity Government

Former Israeli Minister Yoaz Hendel announced he will not support a government led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that relies on a slim 61-seat majority. Hendel, who recently formed a political alliance with MK Hili Tropper under the temporary name "Israel Foundations," stated he would only join a broad unity government commanding 70 to 80 Zionist seats in the Knesset. He emphasized that the next government must exclude parties he considers non-Zionist, explicitly ruling out continued coalition with ultra-Orthodox parties in their current format.

Hendel criticized the current government for undermining national security by advancing the "draft evasion law," which he claims weakens the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the state's security. He clarified that his opposition is not personal against Netanyahu but against narrow governments dependent on controversial political partnerships. Hendel suggested that if the alternative is a government promoting the draft evasion legislation, then new elections would be preferable.

Regarding National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, Hendel described him as a failure in governance, arguing that Ben-Gvir's focus on "governance" ironically results in less effective rule. Hendel also condemned Ben-Gvir and Minister Bezalel Smotrich for supporting the draft evasion law during wartime, which he sees as contradictory to the need to strengthen the IDF and ensure sufficient troop enlistment.