IDF Reservist and Channel 14 Panelist Omer Patsiniash Valdman Joins Zehut Party

The Zehut party announced that Omer Patsiniash Valdman, a 29-year-old IDF reserve captain and prominent figure in the reservists' protest movement, is joining its ranks. The official announcement took place during the party's conference at Expo Tel Aviv, attended by hundreds of supporters and activists. Since the outbreak of the war, Patsiniash Valdman has served as an operations officer in the reserves and later in a role coordinating divisional fire support. She was also a founding member of the "Reservists - Generation of Victory" protest, which established a protest camp outside the Knesset demanding decisive military victory and continued fighting until objectives are met.

In her first speech as a party candidate, Patsiniash Valdman emphasized the need for leadership driven by ideals rather than narrow political interests. She stated, "I did not plan to enter politics, but after witnessing the gap between the soldiers' strength and decision-making processes, I realized it is time for ideal-driven people to take the reins." She chose Zehut because she found its ideology prioritizes principles over political seats and unapologetically affirms Jewish sovereignty in Israel. She stressed that soldiers are not mercenaries but defenders of their homeland and called for responsibility in how the country is governed.

Zehut party chairman Moshe Feiglin warmly welcomed her, calling her "the voice of the generation of heroism" that refuses to hand over its future to the same leadership that led to the October 7 tragedy. Feiglin highlighted that her joining reflects a deep process where the generation called to battle understands it must also take responsibility for national leadership to ensure their sacrifices are not in vain. This move positions Zehut ahead of the 2026 elections as it seeks to attract military and nationalist voters.