Hendel warns of draft compromise

The promise of universal military service for all Israeli men may be eroding before the next government is even formed. Yoaz Hendel, leader of the Reservists-Economic party, warned on Sunday that the anti-Netanyahu bloc is ready to strike a deal with ultra-Orthodox parties on conscription. He said this move betrays the core issue that brought his party and others to the polls.

Hendel’s party received 155,000 votes in the recent election but failed to cross the 3.25% threshold required to enter the Knesset. Despite sitting outside the legislature, he claims this vote total gives his party a strong mandate to push for change. He stated that he will continue his fight from the outside, refusing to accept that his party’s failure silences the issue.

The tension stems from comments made by Avigdor Liberman, chairman of Yisrael Beytenu, on Friday. Liberman said his party is willing to be flexible and compromise on the haredi draft law. He outlined conditions for joining a coalition led by Gadi Eisenkot, leader of the Yashar party. Hendel views this flexibility as a direct contradiction to the election pledges made by Liberman and his allies.

In an interview with 103FM hosts Avishai Grinzaig and Barak Seri, Hendel expressed deep frustration. He recalled telling supporters he was afraid the bloc would sacrifice the draft law to secure a 61-seat majority. He noted that many dismissed his fears, saying it was unlikely. He said he did not expect the coalition partners to abandon their stated principles just one hour after the election results were published.

Hendel criticized the public image of the anti-Netanyahu coalition, which he calls the Change bloc. He said the group claimed that the flag of those who serve was their top priority. He argued that by moving toward a compromise, they have already given up in the eyes of the public. He pointed out that supporters of Benjamin Netanyahu now use this shift to claim both sides are the same.

The former minister highlighted a lack of governance in the Negev and the Galilee regions. He described a country divided, with an Arab sector singing patriotic songs and ultra-Orthodox communities singing about the rule of the heretics. He said this division proves the state is at risk of breaking apart if the draft issue is not resolved immediately. He described the current situation as a disgrace that has already occurred in public perception.

Hendel placed the blame for the election result on both himself and the voters who chose his party. He acknowledged that the failure to cross the threshold is his responsibility. He said he will not say I told you so, but he will use the 155,000 votes as a platform to pressure the new government. He stated that those who dismiss his voice should expect it to return and demand attention.

His mission, according to Hendel, is to prevent Israel from breaking into autonomous enclaves. He warned that without a solution, the country could end up with a non-Zionist majority. He said he fought for three years to protect the state and will continue to do so from outside the Knesset. He believes the current trajectory will leave future generations with a fragmented country unless the coalition acts now.