Hendel and Trooper Pass Threshold, Boosting Gadi Eizenkot’s Political Prospects

In the latest weekly poll by Channel 12, the party led by Yoaz Hendel and Hili Trooper, Beit Tzioni HaMiluaim, has surpassed the electoral threshold for the first time. This development is seen as a significant advantage for Gadi Eizenkot, chairman of the Yisrael party, as it disrupts the coalition Benny Gantz was attempting to form and deters potential joint runs by ministers Amir Ohana and Yariv Levin. The new party’s entry is expected to add to Eizenkot’s bloc, potentially bringing it close to a majority with around 60 seats.

Trooper has stated opposition to forming a government reliant on Arab parties, indicating internal limits to coalition possibilities. While the party’s success is positive for Eizenkot, analysts caution that the situation remains fluid. The party’s four seats are drawn mostly from the opposition bloc, with one seat from Netanyahu’s side, which could reduce the opposition’s total to 56 seats if the party grows stronger.

Political commentators note that the party’s rise complicates the center’s landscape, affecting other right-wing and centrist parties like Otzma Yehudit and New Hope. Hendel and Trooper’s party appeals to a segment of religious Zionist voters not aligned with the more right-wing Religious Zionism party led by Bezalel Smotrich, who recently finalized a list dominated by settlers from Judea and Samaria.

Public sentiment appears to be shifting toward issue-based voting rather than loyalty to individual leaders, driven by concerns over the October 7 massacre, cost of living, social polarization, and security. Hendel and Trooper plan to launch a campaign titled "We Are the Decisive Voice" to capitalize on their momentum. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz’s party struggles but still holds about 1.5 seats worth of voters desiring change, which could influence the opposition bloc’s strength.

Overall, the emergence of Hendel and Trooper’s party introduces new dynamics in Israel’s fragmented political scene, offering both opportunities and challenges for coalition-building ahead of the elections.